Apparatus and methods for use therein for an ISDN LAN modem utilizing browser-based configuration with adaptation of network parameters

ABSTRACT

Apparatus, and accompanying methods for use therein, for an ISDN LAN modem that is suited for small user environments and which contains an internal ISDN router having a self-contained network hub for inter-connecting multiple network devices, such as workstations, to each other through a local area network (LAN) and for permitting each of those devices to each gain access through the router to any one of a number of different remote networks. Advantageously, to facilitate and simplify its configuration, the LAN modem automatically adapts itself to a current network environment of a workstation connected thereto, via the LAN, and then communicates with that workstation through a browser executing thereat to obtain configuration information from a user situated at the workstation.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to apparatus, and accompanying methods for usetherein, for an ISDN LAN modem (or an aspect thereof) that isparticularly, though not exclusively, suited for small user environmentsand which contains an internal ISDN router having a self-containednetwork hub for inter-connecting multiple network devices, such asworkstations, to each other through a local area network (LAN) and forpermitting each of those devices to gain access through the router toany one of a number of different remote networks.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Over the past decade, personal computer (PC) usage has increasedsubstantially to the point where currently PCs have diffused into manyaspects of a business organization. Coincident with this phenomena, adesire has increasingly arisen, certainly in a workplace environment,among computer users in a common organization, such as a businessestablishment, to readily share computer files. This desire,particularly when fueled by historically decreasing costs of networkequipment, has led to an expanding number of network installationsthroughout the business community to facilitate file sharing andelectronic communication among not only users in a common organization,but also with users at other organizations and locations. Moreover, asthese costs of increasingly sophisticated PCs and network equipmentcontinue to fall, networked computer usage is penetrating increasinglysmaller organizations as the expected benefits to those organizations,such as expanded productivity, outweigh the costs associated therewith.

Moreover, the trend of increasing PC usage is not confined to business.Home usage of PCs is also rising though currently penetration of PCsinto homes is still considerably less than that in the businesscommunity. Nevertheless, PC applications exist that address variousneeds of a family, from, e.g., traditional productivity tools, such asword processing for, e.g., home office use, to education, entertainmentand to Internet access. Given this, today, it is increasingly common fora family to possess several PCs. For example, for a typical family oftwo spouses and two children of school age, each spouse may requirehis(her) own PC for business use, such as for job-related endeavors,while each child may have one PC or share a common PC, purchased for allchildren in the family, for, e.g., educational use, such as runningteaching programs of one sort or another, Internet access, orentertainment.

If current cost and technology trends continue, PC usage shouldincreasingly proliferate throughout businesses and families to a pointof becoming rather ubiquitous and inter-connected, i.e., at leastideally and at some time in the future where most people will possesstheir own PC and where such PCs will become increasingly inter-networkedwith each other.

However, a significant obstacle to increasing PC usage andinter-networking has been the continued difficulty many individuals facewhen installing and configuring a PC, let alone connecting the PC to awide area network (WAN), such as the Internet, or even implementing asimple local area network (LAN).

For many individuals, specifically those inexperienced with PCs, thetask of just installing and configuring a PC itself is so daunting,particularly for so-called IBM compatible PCs, that the task oftennegates their desire to purchase a PC. To counter this, PC manufacturershave made and continue to make significant strides over the past fewyears, such as through incorporating so-called "Plug and Play" hardwareand using compatible pre-loaded operating systems, such as the "WINDOWS95" operating system (WINDOWS 95 is a trademark of the MicrosoftCorporation of Redmond, Wash.), to automatically detect system hardwareand self-configure the PC, as well as to simplify subsequent PC use andmaintenance. Unfortunately, the same can not be said for computernetworks.

Installing hardware for a very simple computer network for a smallnumber of users (henceforth referred to as a "workgroup") is relativelystraightforward--typically encompassing installing a multi-port networkhub and a network interface card, the latter into each PC to benetworked in the workgroup; and running interconnecting cablestherebetween. However, properly configuring conventional networkhardware and associated software in each of the PCs is a rather tedioustask--one that often frustrates even an experienced user. Consequently,many users desiring to network their computers, even for a simplenetwork, have relegated the task of installing and properly configuringtheir networks, including both hardware and software components, toproperly trained service organizations or consultants but at aconsiderable expense relative to the cost of the equipment. While arelatively large organization can afford to incur such expenses, smallorganizations and families can not. Accordingly, while many smallbusiness users and even home users could significantly benefit fromnetworking their computers together as workgroups--such as through filesharing and electronic communication, the difficulty and expenseassociated therewith has effectively limited the penetration of computernetworks into these environments.

Therefore, a need exists in the art for a computer networking devicethat not only implements a LAN, which permits computers to be networkedtogether in, e.g., a workgroup, but also significantly simplifies andexpedites network configuration. Such a device should ease the burdenplaced on the user as much as possible, preferably to a point ofautomatically adapting itself, without user intervention, to its currentnetwork environment. As yet, no such device exists in the art.

Furthermore and quite apart from increasing proliferation of PCs, inrecent years, a number of domestic and foreign telephone companies havebegun offering Integrated Service Digital Network (ISDN) services totheir customers. ISDN provides an integrated voice and data network thatoffers both increased bandwidth and significant flexibility overtraditional analog telephone services. Inasmuch as subscriber chargesfor ISDN access are decreasing--with the decrease being rathernoticeable for some telephone companies, demand for ISDN service andequipment is rising appreciably. Demand is particularly strong andgrowing for those subscribers who seek cost-effective high speed accessto a WAN such as, e.g., the Internet, and/or other computer networks.

In particular, a basic rate (so-called "2B+D" service) ISDN interfaceprovides higher speed bandwidth than both traditional analog,modem-based dial-up access modalities and comparably priced switcheddigital services. Each so-called B ("bearer") channel, which carriessubscriber voice and/or data, provides 64 Kbits/second of bandwidth;while a D ("data") channel, which carries signaling and controlinformation, provides 16 Kbits/second of bandwidth. For the bandwidthdelivered, an ISDN line is significantly less expensive than a privateleased line that supplies the same bandwidth across the three channels.Furthermore, ISDN, being a digital end-to-end service, provides digitaltransmission channels that tend to be more accurate and reliable, from astandpoint of error rates and dropped connections, than are conventionalanalog telephone connections. In addition, ISDN service provides rapidconnect times which, in turn, provide faster support for those LANprotocols that require relatively short latency across WAN connections.

Starting a few years ago, various networking and communicationsequipment manufacturers have been offering relatively inexpensive ISDNterminal adapters, more commonly and rather loosely referred to as "ISDNmodems" (though these adapters do not contain a traditional analogmodulator-demodulator as occurs in a conventional analog modem), andother ISDN-based network devices, such as routers, for subscriberend-use. Such a modem, also generically referred to as "data circuitterminating equipment" (DCE), once connected to an ISDN connection and aserial port on a subscriber's PC, permits that subscriber to connecthis(her) computer to, e.g., an Internet service provider and communicateat speeds approximately two to four times greater through a conventionalanalog modem. The computer so connected becomes so-called "data terminalequipment" (DTE). While the availability of ISDN modems is clearly notthe sole cause underlying the growth in ISDN usage, it, when combinedwith decreasing rates for ISDN service, is certainly a large and growingfactor.

Unfortunately, currently available ISDN devices, such as routers, whichconnect a network, e.g., an Ethernet network, to a single ISDNconnection are rather cumbersome and tedious to configure. In thatregard, such a router typically contains an RS-232 serial port to whicha PC is connected in order to initially configure the router. Duringconfiguration, a user at the PC, typically executing a proprietaryapplication provided by the manufacturer of the router, assigns suitablenetwork parameters, including an IP address and a subnet mask, to therouter. Until these parameters are loaded into the router, the router issimply unable to communicate over the network to any PC connectedthereto. Determining the correct value of these parameters and thencompleting the configuration, with all the other salient information,proved to be a rather tedious process. Furthermore, not only did theuser incur a burden of installing software on the PC used to configurethe router, but also the price of the router needed to reflect an addedcost of the serial port, which during the life of the router is usuallyused just once for initial configuration.

In addition, in the event of a network fault or other condition thataffects a connection to a remote LAN or WAN and/or server thereon,conventional routers do not indicate the specific nature of that faultto any local client connected to the router. This, in turn, relegates auser at that client to rely on an error message, in those instances whenit is provided by the network, that is often rather cryptic at best andmore often simply not provided at all. In the latter situation, the usersimply waits in basically total ignorance of the fault, i.e., the faultoccurs but the user receives no indication of it on, e.g., his(her)browser. Not only is the user annoyed by this type of fault handling,but also the user is forced to wait, owing to a lack of informationwhich leads to an expectation (which later proves to be unwarranted)that the fault will resolve itself, which can be rather time-consumingand frustrating.

Moreover, it is increasingly common to find multiple users on the samenetwork who simultaneously desire to connect to the Internet throughdifferent network service providers, e.g., one user may desire toconnect to one Internet service provider (ISP) at the same time anotheruser wants to connect to a different ISP. Unfortunately, currentlyavailable ISDN routers can not accommodate simultaneous ISDN connectionsby multiple PCs to different ISPs; such routers are limited toaccommodating only one connection to one ISP at a time. Moreover, theserouters are unable to control access, on a per PC basis, to any one of anumber of multiple accounts across different network service providers.

Hence, given the increasing availability of economical ISDN connectionsand advantages associated with the use thereof, the computer networkingdevice needed in the art should not only implement a LAN that serves aworkgroup but also should implement an ISDN router to providesimultaneous high-speed access for the LAN through a single ISDNconnection to multiple service providers, such as, e.g., different ISPs.Moreover, such a device should be easy to configure, without a need forany external software, and to reduce its price, dispense with a need forany serial or other port used solely for initial configuration.

Advantageously, such a device, which as yet does not exist in the art,should not only substantially eliminate user frustration andsignificantly reduce time and costs associated with establishing,configuring and using a LAN for a workgroup as well as with connectingeach PC therein to a remote network service provider, but also increasethe use of such LANs in small businesses and among home users to theeventual benefit of each.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the deficiencies in the art andsatisfies these needs by providing an ISDN LAN modem that contains anISDN router, with an internal multi-port hub to implement a LAN (localare network), that automatically adapts itself to a current networkenvironment of a workstation connected thereto and then permitsbrowser-based configuration, and accommodates several modalities ofnetwork communication not heretofore possible in a conventional router.

With respect to configuration, the LAN modem can receive configurationinformation directly from a workstation connected to the LAN, andspecifically through, illustratively, a web browser (or otherappropriate TCP/IP application, such as Telnet) executing on thatworkstation, advantageously without any need for any additional serial(or other) port on either the LAN modem or the workstation.

Specifically, in accordance with specific teachings of the presentinvention, once the workstation is connected to the hub and the browserbegins executing on the workstation, the LAN modem automatically adaptsitself to the current network environment of the workstation. To do so,the LAN modem will detect the Ethernet address of that workstationthrough packets transmitted by the workstation, determine the IP addressof that workstation (either through dynamic assignment or by staticaddress of the workstation from an ARP (address resolution protocolpacket)), and then, if the workstation is using static addressing, setits own IP address and subnet mask such that the LAN modem and theworkstation are on the same subnet. Once this occurs, the LAN modem andthe workstation are then able to communicate over the network throughthe web browser. The LAN modem will then intercept any request issued bythe workstation to fetch a web page and, through its own internal webserver, will generate and download to the workstation, a default homepage through which the user can commence configuring the LAN modem. Onceconfiguration commences, the web server will then step the user througha succession of displayed web pages through which the user will bequeried to enter salient configuration data. The web server will thenextract this data from responses received from the user and then storethis data, for subsequent use, in a shared database within the LANmodem.

Furthermore, the LAN modem provides additional modalities of networkcommunication through use of an inventive multi-tiered routinghierarchy, which permits bi-directional translation between manyindividual private IP addresses and one shared public IP address.

Specifically, the LAN modem assigns a private IP address to eachworkstation that connects to the LAN. The LAN modem translates theindividual private IP address of each of the workstations to a singlepublic address assigned, e.g., either statically or dynamically, to theLAN modem by a network service provider, e.g., an Internet serviceprovider (ISP), by accessing a source-based routing table and a hostlist which collectively associate the private source IP address of aparticular workstation on the LAN and a network ID for the serviceprovider to which that workstation is ultimately connected through theLAN modem. The LAN modem also translates source and destination portnumber fields, as needed. This IP address and port number translationassures uniqueness of a set of source/destination IP addresses, protocolID and source/destination port numbers in packets that flow betweenunique client/server applications and which pass through the LAN modemso as to provide unambiguous routing in the LAN modem between all theworkstations connected to the LAN modem and associated remote servers.

Consequently, through such translation, then as far as the ISP isconcerned, all packet traffic involving the workstations, by virtue oftheir common, though shared, public IP address, appears to emanate fromor be directed to a single user. Appropriate account information, suchas user identification and password data, for the shared account isstored within the shared database in the LAN modem. Through thisinformation, the LAN modem transparently establishes the connectionbetween the workstations and the ISP without prompting any of the actualusers therefor for appropriate account information. As a result ofemploying this inventive translated addressing technique, the LAN modemdistributes (effectively de-multiplexing) individual packets emanatingover a single ISDN connection from the ISP to the proper workstations onthe LAN, and routes (i.e., effectively multiplexes) outgoing packets,from all such workstations having differing private IP addresses, into acommon packet stream over a single shared packet connection to that ISPfor subsequent transport over the remote network. Advantageously, bypermitting multiple users to share a single ISP account, use of ourinventive technique is likely to significantly reduce collective networkaccess charges over what these users would otherwise incur if, asconventionally occurs, they were to gain network access through separateuser accounts.

Furthermore, through use of the inventive hierarchical routing scheme,the LAN modem can simultaneously route packet traffic between multipleworkstations on the LAN and different corresponding ISPs throughdifferent ISDN connections simultaneously existing between the LAN modemand those providers. In this regard, the LAN modem accommodatesconnections to several different user-definable network serviceproviders, e.g., ISPs, by storing appropriate information for each suchprovider in a shared database, such as user account and passwordinformation, as well as network identification including network IPaddress, domain names and remote DNS server addresses, and employingthis information to define the appropriate connections and properlyroute packets accordingly over these connections.

As a feature of the present invention, the LAN modem advantageouslycontains internal co-operating DHCP (dynamic host control protocol) andDNS (domain name system) servers that are integrated with routing andcall management processes, all utilizing data stored within the shareddatabase.

Use of the internal DNS server provides local name-to-address resolutionsuch that, for user convenience and simplicity, each workstation on theLAN can be addressed in terms of its machine name rather than its IPaddress. Furthermore, the DNS server, by using the same shared databaseas does the DHCP server, operates transparently of any user to acquiremachine names of all the workstations connected to the LAN and thenprovide suitable machine name to IP address resolution, as needed, forall communication between the LAN modem and these workstations as wellas between any pair of workstations themselves. In addition, the DNSserver given a DNS query, will determine, based on the source of thequery, i.e., which specific workstation generated it, and thedestination to which the query is directed (e.g., another host on theLAN as identified by the machine name of the host, the LAN modem itselfor a remote network), the DNS server to which the query is to be routedand will then route the query accordingly to that server. As such, theLAN modem hides from a host the selection of the DNS server that will beused in a given instance and hence significantly simplifies the use ofthe DNS in each workstation connected to the LAN modem. In addition, theDHCP server provides the IP address, subnet mask and gateway and DNSserver addresses to the local workstations, thereby eliminating any needfor a user to manually configure and administer these items.Furthermore, any workstation is always assigned the same IP address fromthe DHCP server, rather than having its IP address change from sessionto session, as would normally occur with dynamic IP addressing.Consequently, a user profile associated with each workstation can beeasily maintained and identified using its host IP address, and thenumber of workstations that are simultaneously allowed to use the LANmodem can be very easily controlled.

As another feature of the present invention, the LAN modem assures theintegrity, to a substantial degree, of executing program code storedwithin volatile memory, e.g., DRAM (dynamic random access memory),within the LAN modem, thereby advantageously preventing to a significantextent code corruption and improper operation of the LAN modem. Flashmemory, by virtue of its non-volatility, stores executable program codefor the LAN modem. Upon a system reset, the executable code is writteninto DRAM, which provides markedly faster access time over the flashmemory, from which the code is then executed.

Specifically, while the LAN modem is idling, a preemptable backgroundprocess executes with, e.g., a low execution priority, to continuallycompare the entire executable program code stored in the DRAM, on alocation-by-location basis, with that stored in the flash memory. In theevent a discrepancy is detected, the contents of a location in flashmemory are copied to a corresponding location in the DRAM to eliminatethe discrepancy, thereby maintaining the integrity of the executablecode stored in the DRAM. Integrity of the code stored in the flashmemory is assured by restricting any change in the mode of the flashmemory from read-only to read/write through use of a key-based softwarelock.

As an additional feature of the present invention, the LAN modemcontains an internal web server that, in addition to storing full webpages, constructs web pages in real-time from a predefined stored webpage template by selectively inserting, e.g., event-specific, codesegments therein. Illustratively, this insertion occurs by substitutingsuch a segment(s) for a corresponding so-called "placeholder(s)" thatappears in the template. These segments can represent dialog boxes,graphics, predefined textual messages or, generically speaking, anyobject, whether implemented through HTML or otherwise, that is to be,e.g., selectively presented to a user either for display and/or tosolicit a response, such as an item of data or a selection among a listof predefined data values, from the user. Since relatively few full webpages are stored, memory requirements to store the underlying data tosupport the web server advantageously become rather modest.Illustratively, and in the context of the LAN modem, these web pages areused to query a user situated at any workstation on the LAN to enterinformation needed to configure the LAN modem, as well as to display aspecific nature and cause, if known, of a detected fault condition sothat an affected user situated at any such workstation can takeappropriate action.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The teachings of the present invention can be readily understood byconsidering the following detailed description in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 depicts an overall high-level block diagram of inventive LANmodem 300 in its typical environment of use;

FIGS. 2A-2C each depicts a different illustrative mode of operationwhich inventive LAN modem 300, shown in FIG. 1, can provide;

FIG. 3 depicts a hardware block diagram of inventive LAN modem 300 shownin FIG. 1;

FIG. 4A depicts an overall block diagram of software that is executed bycentral processing unit (CPU) 330, shown in FIG. 3, situated within theinventive LAN modem;

FIG. 4B depicts an architectural block diagram of software 400 containedwithin application software 4020 shown in FIG. 4A that, among otheraspects, implements the various modes of operation of the LAN modemshown in FIGS. 2A-2C;

FIG. 5 depicts interaction, in terms of predominant inter-processcommunications, that occurs within software 400 shown in FIG. 4B forsetting up an ISDN call based on traffic on the local area network(LAN);

FIG. 6 depicts interaction, in terms of predominant inter-processcommunications, that occurs within software 400 shown in FIG. 4B forsetting up an ISDN call based on a DNS (domain name system) request froma workstation (host) on the LAN;

FIG. 7 depicts interaction, in terms of predominant inter-processcommunications, that occurs within software 400 shown in FIG. 4B forprocessing an incoming ISDN call to the LAN modem;

FIG. 8 depicts interaction, in terms of predominant inter-processcommunications, that occurs within software 400 shown in FIG. 4B fordisconnecting an ISDN call as a result of an idle timeout condition;

FIG. 9 depicts the correct alignment of the drawing sheets for FIGS.9A-9C;

FIGS. 9A-9C collectively depict a flowchart of Initial Configurationprocedure 900 performed by CPU 330;

FIG. 10 depicts the inventive source-based router architecture used inthe LAN modem;

FIG. 11 depicts a flowchart of Primary Routing procedure 1100 shown inFIG. 10 and performed by CPU 330;

FIG. 12 depicts the correct alignment of the drawing sheets for FIGS.12A-12D;

FIGS. 12A-12D collectively depict a flowchart of Secondary Routerprocedure 1200 also shown in FIG. 10 and performed by CPU 330;

FIG. 13A depicts the structure of host list 1300 including itsconstituent data fields and their initial entries, contained withindatabase 416 stored within flash memory 376 shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 13B depicts the structure of network service provider list 1350including its constituent data fields also contained within database 416stored in flash memory 376 shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 13C depicts the structure of Destination-Based Routing Table 432,including its initial values, stored within DRAM 372 shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 13D depicts the structure of Source-Based Routing Table 446 whichis also stored within DRAM 372 shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 14 depicts a flowchart of DHCP Induced IP Address Request procedure1400 performed by CPU 330;

FIG. 15 depicts the correct alignment of the drawing sheets for FIGS.15A-15D;

FIGS. 15A-15D collectively depict a flowchart of DNS Induced IP AddressRequest procedure 1500 that is also performed by CPU 330;

FIG. 16 depicts a flowchart of Firmware Upgrade (FU) process 402 shownin FIG. 4B that is also performed by CPU 330;

FIG. 17 depicts a flowchart of Firmware Assurance Manager process 1700that is contained within application programs 4020 shown in FIG. 4A andis executed therein as background (lowest priority) application 4030;

FIG. 18 depicts a high-level block diagram of web server 412, shown inFIG. 4B, and certain of its associated processes;

FIG. 19 depicts a flowchart of Static Page Processing operation 1830that is performed by web server 412 shown in FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 depicts a flowchart of Dynamic Page Formation operation 1840that is also performed by web server 412 shown in FIG. 18;

FIG. 21 depicts a flowchart of Post Processing operation 1850 that isalso performed by web server 412 shown in FIG. 18;

FIG. 22 depicts code 2200 for an illustrative inventive web pagetemplate, and specifically one employed in conjunction with an ISPWizard used in the LAN modem;

FIG. 23 depicts a page, as would be rendered on a workstation display,in response to HTML code 2200 shown in FIG. 22;

FIG. 24 depicts, in block diagram form, inventive process 2400 forforming a web page from a web page template and page components, andillustratively for a web page used in conjunction with the ISP Wizard;

FIG. 25 depicts HTML code 2500 for a specific web page that results fromuse of process 2400 and template HTML code 2200 for a specific event,e.g. a failure to establish a connection to an Internet service provider(ISP);

FIG. 26 depicts a page, as would be rendered on a workstation display,in response to HTML code 2500 shown in FIG. 25;

FIG. 27 depicts a sequence of three pages 2710, as would be rendered ona workstation display, to portray a progress bar and which result fromthree corresponding HTML code segments 2720, all of which aredynamically constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 28 depicts a flowchart of File Creation process 2800 that creates acommon file of a web page template and associated web page components inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 29 depicts data structure 3000, stored within repository 1860,containing templates and web page components as produced throughexecution of File Creation process 2800 shown in FIG. 28;

FIG. 30 depicts the correct alignment of the drawing sheets for FIGS.30A-30B;

FIGS. 30A-30B collectively depict source code for data structure 3000containing, in accordance with the present inventive teachings, variousentries each having, for either an illustrative web page template or anillustrative web page component, a pointer and a corresponding name; and

FIG. 31 depicts actual object code for a document array, e.g., FRMAIN₋₋HTM[ ], containing a corresponding illustrative predefined web pagecomponent, as stored in structure 3000.

To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have beenused, where possible, to designate identical elements that are common tovarious figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

After considering the following description, those skilled in the artwill clearly realize that the teachings of the present invention can bereadily utilized in substantially any ISDN data circuit terminatingequipment (DCE) which interfaces an ISDN line to nearly any form ofcomputer network, regardless of the type of network. In that regard, theISDN line can be, e.g., a basic rate (2B+D) interface (BRI) or a primaryrate (23B+D or 30B+D) interface. Moreover, the network can beillustratively Ethernet, Token Ring, asynchronous transfer mode (ATM),frame relay or other type of network--with the actual network modalitybeing irrelevant to the present invention. In addition, these teachingsare also applicable across a wide variety of remote network connectionmodalities, not just ISDN. In that regard these modalities canillustratively range from, e.g., analog telephone connections usingconventional modems, through high-speed digital connections such as ATMor frame relay. Inasmuch as Ethernet networks are the predominantnetwork architecture used in inter-connecting personal computers (PCs)in a local area network, and particularly those for implementing asworkgroups, to simplify the discussion, the invention will be discussedin that context. Moreover, since a basic rate type ISDN interface isoften used to provide a remote network connection for individualsubscribers and small businesses, we will also discuss our invention inthe context of its use with such an interface. Clearly, afterconsidering this discussion, those skilled in the art will readilyappreciate how to use our invention with any of a wide range ofdiffering types of computer networks and to modify the inventiveteachings, as necessary, to conform to the requirements of the specificnetwork being used, as well as to conform use of the present inventionwith another type of ISDN interface, or different connection modality,to a remote network.

A. Overall network environment

FIG. 1 depicts an overall high-level block diagram of the inventivelocal area network (LAN) modem 300 in its typical environment of use.Though LAN modem 300 does not contain a traditional analogmodulator-demodulator as occurs in a conventional analog modem, for easeof reference, this device will nevertheless be referred to as a "LANmodem" inasmuch as it provides the general functionality associated witha modem of connecting a workstation to an external computer network,though here through an ISDN, rather than an analog POTS (plain oldtelephone service), connection.

As illustrated, LAN modem 300 inter-connects a group of workstations(also referred to herein as "hosts") 10, illustratively here fourindividual workstations (typically personal computers--PCs) 10_(a),10_(b), 10_(c) and 10_(d), in an Ethernet local area network. Toimplement the LAN, LAN modem 300 contains ISDN router 305 which itselfcontains an internal, here illustratively 10 Mb/second 10 BaseT,Ethernet hub 340 which connects through ports 15, specifically 15_(a),15_(b), 15_(c) and 15_(d), to workstations 10.

The router establishes an ISDN connection through BRI ISDN connection 40and public switched telephone network (PSTN) 50 to appropriate remotenetworks 60 and/or 70, such as the Internet or a private network,accessible through a corresponding service provider, or a remote LAN,such as an office network. Inasmuch as router 305, as discussed indetail below, can accommodate, in one of its operational modalities (asdiscussed below in conjunction with FIG. 2B), two simultaneousconnections, over different B channels (here shown as B₁ and B₂) in acommon BRI ISDN connection, to two different external networks, theseconnections are symbolized by leads 55 and 58 connecting remote networks60 and 70 over channels B₁ and B₂, respectively.

Apart from routing ISDN packet traffic, via PSTN 50, between any ofworkstations 10 and a remote network(s), LAN modem 300, specificallyISDN router 305 therein, can also accommodate two analog telephonedevices 20 (here illustratively shown as facsimile machine 20_(a) andtelephone 20_(b) and also denoted as analog telephone devices 1 and 2,respectively) appropriately interfaced, via ports 25, to analog lines25₁ and 25₂. In that regard, the LAN modem can bi-directionally routedigitized voice traffic on either or both B-channels of ISDN connection40 between PSTN 50, and specifically to, either one or simultaneously toboth of analog telephone devices 20, respectively.

B. Modalities of use of inventive LAN modem

Inventive LAN modem 300 can function in a variety of different networkmodalities, as shown, e.g., in FIGS. 2A-2C. Generally speaking, inaccordance with our invention, LAN modem 300 can: operate in a truerouting mode using either dynamic or static IP (internet protocol)addressing for all the workstations on the LAN; provide two simultaneousconnections, as discussed above, for two different workstations on theLAN, over separate B-channels of a common ISDN connection, to differentcorresponding remote networks; and provide simultaneous access for anyor all workstations on the LAN to a common service provider, such as aninternet service provider (ISP), through a single user account.

FIG. 2A depicts LAN modem 300 operating as a true router, usingillustratively static IP addressing. Here, workstations 10_(a), 10_(b),10_(c) and 10_(d) have all been assigned static IP addresses,illustratively 222.123.4.1, 222.123.4.2, 222.123.4.3 and 222.123.4.4,respectively, with LAN modem 300 carrying static IP address 222.123.4.7.Given these addresses, all the workstations and the LAN modem are on thesame statically assigned subnet. Consequently, LAN modem 300 willexamine packets on the LAN that carry an Ethernet address of the LANmodem and emanating from any of the workstations to determine, from thedestination IP address of the packet, whether that packet is destinedfor a local application, (as discussed below) executing on the LANmodem, or is to be routed off the LAN to a remote network. If thedestination address indicates a different network, here illustrativelyremote network 60, or a different subnet, then the LAN modem establishesan ISDN connection through PSTN 50 to a service provider forillustratively remote network 60 and then routes the packet accordinglyto that remote network. LAN modem 300 also examines all packets incomingfrom remote network 60 and routes all such packets destined for any ofthe workstations on the static subnet to the LAN.

In establishing the ISDN connection, the LAN modem can be configured toutilize multi-link PPP (point-to-point protocol) in establishing theconnection. Assuming this protocol is supported by the service provider,then, based on the amount of packet traffic which is to be carried overthe connection at any time and hence the required transmission bandwidththerefor, either one or, as shown, both B channels (B₁ and B₂ for atotal available bandwidth of 128 Kbits/second) will be used to carrythis traffic, via ISDN lines 40 and 58, among LAN modem 300, PSTN 50 andthe service provider (not specifically shown) for remote network 60.Through use of multi-link PPP, the number of B channels that carry thistraffic at any one time will dynamically vary between one and two basedon traffic loading then occurring. LAN modem 300 can also be configuredto dynamically assign an available IP address within the subnet assignedto the LAN modem (hence providing dynamic IP addressing) to each of theworkstations as a corresponding user, i.e., User₁, User₂, User₃ orUser₄, logs onto the LAN network.

Alternatively, as noted above and depicted in FIG. 2B, LAN modem 300 canprovide two simultaneous connections for two different workstations inthe LAN, over separate B-channels (each providing 64 Kbits/second ofbandwidth) of a common ISDN connection, to different correspondingremote networks. Here, assume that within a workgroup, User₅ and User₆stationed at respective workstations 10_(e) and 10_(f) have differentuser accounts at different ISPs (Internet service providers), heresymbolized by remote networks 60 and 70, respectively, and desire toaccess the Internet during the same time through these different ISPs.

Illustratively, for User₅ and User₆, LAN modem 300 will establish asingle B-channel connection, as symbolized by line 58, over B-channelB₁, to remote network 60, and as symbolized by line 55, over B-channelB₂, to remote network 70, respectively.

Furthermore, in this scenario, as each user logs onto the LAN through acorresponding workstation (10_(e) or 10_(f)), LAN modem 300 dynamicallyassigns an available private IP address to the workstation for thatuser. Accordingly, workstations 10_(e) and 10_(f) are assigned privateIP addresses 192.168.1.2 and 192.168.1.4, respectively; with LAN modem300 having private IP address 192.168.1.1. The LAN modem maintains alist of private IP addresses available for local use by workstations (orother networked devices) connected to the LAN. None of these privateaddresses is ever routed beyond the LAN. As the user logs onto the LANand establishes a connection through LAN modem 300 to his(her) ISP, thatISP will dynamically assign an IP address to that user. The dynamicpublic IP addresses assigned to User₅ and User₆ are, e.g., 210.7.12.1and 234.12.63.15, respectively. Each of the dynamic IP addresses will bestored within the LAN modem (particularly within a shared databasetherein as discussed below in detail). As incoming packets containingthese dynamic IP addresses are routed by the ISPs, over the different Bchannels, to LAN modem 300, the LAN modem, in essence, will translatethe dynamic public IP address contained in each such packet to theprivate IP address of the corresponding workstation and route thepacket, but containing the translated address as the destination IPaddress, to the LAN. Similarly, for packets appearing on the LAN which,based on their destination IP addresses, are to be routed by the LANmodem to either of the ISPs, the LAN modem, in essence, will translatethe source IP address in each of these packets from the private IPaddress into the appropriate public dynamic IP address of the associatedworkstation, substitute the translated IP address for the private IPaddress in each such packet, and then route that packet accordingly tothe proper remote network. Though this scenario has been described asusing dynamic IP addressing for both of the workstations, i.e., withaddresses being dynamically assigned by both the remote networksinvolved and the LAN modem, one or both of the workstations canalternatively be statically addressed using fixed public IP addresses.Moreover, though this example depicts merely one workstation connectedto each ISP, the LAN modem, as will be clear in conjunction with thescenario depicted in FIG. 2C, can share a common connection to an ISPacross multiple workstations.

In addition, as noted above and depicted in FIG. 2C, LAN modem 300 canprovide simultaneous access for any or all workstations in the LAN to acommon service provider, such as a single ISP, through a single account.Here, assume that within a workgroup, illustratively User₇, User₉ andUser₁₀ respectively stationed at workstations 10_(g), 10_(i) and 10_(j)all desire to access, e.g., the Internet through a single user accountat a common ISP, here symbolized by remote network 60.

As each of the three users logs on to the LAN through his(her)corresponding workstation, LAN modem 300 dynamically assigns anavailable private IP address to the corresponding workstation for thatuser. Accordingly, workstations 10_(g), 10_(i) and 10_(j) are assignedillustrative private IP addresses 192.168.1.2, 192.168.1.4 and192.168.1.5; with LAN modem 300 itself having private IP address192.168.1.1. While the first of these three users initiates a connectionto remote network 60, via the common ISP, the ISP dynamically assigns anIP address, illustratively 198.6.1.1, to that workstation. IP addresstranslation will occur as described above. In many instances, though notspecifically shown here, both port number fields (as discussed below)and IP addresses will be translated. Such IP address and port numbertranslation, when required, assure proper uniqueness between a set ofsource/destination IP addresses, protocol IDs and source/destinationport numbers in packets flowing between unique client/serverapplications and which pass through the LAN modem. This, in turn,provides unambiguous routing in the LAN modem between all theworkstations connected to the LAN modem and associated remote servers.

Specifically, for incoming packets traversing from remote network 60 toworkstation 10_(g) via the LAN modem, LAN modem 300 will translate thedynamic public IP destination address in each such packet into thecorresponding private IP address, substitute the latter for the formerin each such packet and then transmit the resulting packet onto the LAN,from which workstation 10_(g) will receive that packet. For outgoingpackets from this workstation appearing on the LAN and destined forremote network 60, LAN modem will translate the private IP address inthat packet, as its source address, to the corresponding public IPaddress, substitute the latter for the former in the packet and thenroute the resulting packet via ISDN connection 40 to remote network 60.As the other two users each establishes a separate connection throughtheir workstations 10_(i) and 10_(j), via the LAN modem, to the sameISP, LAN modem 300, using our inventive source-based routingtechnique--which is described in detail below, will recognize the samenetwork address of the ISP in packets emanating from these twoworkstations, translate their differing private IP addresses to the samepublic IP address associated with workstation 10_(g). Through ourinventive addressing technique, all packet traffic, as symbolized bydashed lines, for these three workstations will share a single commonpublic IP address, here illustratively 198.6.1.1, and traverse a commonISDN connection, here symbolized by lines 40 and 58, among the LANmodem, PSTN 50 and remote network 60. LAN modem 300 will providesuitable IP address translation, as discussed above, between theindividual private IP addresses of each of the three workstations andthe single public address dynamically assigned to first workstation bythe ISP. Consequently, as far as the ISP is concerned, all packettraffic involving the three workstations will appear, by virtue of theircommon, though shared, public IP address, to emanate from or be directedto a single user. Appropriate account information, such as useridentification and password data, for the shared account is storedwithin LAN modem 300 such that the LAN modem can transparently establishthe connection between the workstation(s) and the ISP without promptingany of the actual users therefor. As a result of employing thisinventive addressing technique (utilizing IP address and where required,port number translation), individual packets emanating over a singleISDN connection from the ISP for remote network 60 can be distributed onthe LAN to the proper workstation and to a proper application or processexecuting thereon; while outgoing packets, from all such workstations,initially having differing private IP addresses can be subsequentlyrouted into a common packet stream over a single shared packetconnection to that ISP for subsequent transport over remote network 60.Advantageously, by permitting multiple users, here, e.g., three suchusers to share a single ISP account--which generally incurs a flat-ratecharge regardless of actual connection time, use of our inventivetechnique is likely to significantly reduce collective network accesscharges by a factor of, e.g., 2/3 over what these users would otherwiseincur if, as conventionally occurs, they were to gain network accessthrough three separate user accounts. Here too, though this scenario hasbeen described as using dynamic IP addressing of the workstations, i.e.,with addresses being dynamically assigned by the LAN modem and theaddress of the LAN modem itself being dynamically assigned by the ISP,one or more of the workstations or the LAN modem can alternatively bestatically addressed using fixed public IP addresses.

C. Detailed discussion of inventive LAN modem

With the above in mind, the discussion will proceed to describe, withreference to FIG. 3, the hardware of LAN modem 300 in detail, followedby the software. To simplify reader understanding, the software then bedescribed first with reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B, in terms of itsoverall architecture; followed by a description, then with references toFIGS. 5-8, of the interaction that occurs among several softwareprocesses for implementing various operations performed by the inventiveLAN modem; and concluding with a description, with reference to variousremaining figures, of the implementation, typically involving several ofthe software processes shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, of various aspects ofthe inventive LAN modem.

1. Hardware

FIG. 3 depicts a block diagram of inventive LAN modem 300. As shown, theLAN modem contains ISDN router 305.

ISDN router 305 contains ISDN interface 310, central processing unit(CPU) 330; analog line interfaces 350 containing identical analog lineinterfaces 350₁ and 350₂ ; memory 370; and serial EPROM (electricallyprogrammable read only memory) and watchdog timer 380; all of which areinterconnected through bus 390. In addition, the ISDN router alsocontains display latch 335 and Ethernet hub 340. Furthermore, the LANmodem also contains conventional power supply, combinatorial logic andclocking circuits which, for simplicity, have all been intentionallyomitted from the figure.

Memory 370, which illustratively comprises dynamic random access memory(DRAM) 372 and flash memory 376, stores software instructions--thesalient software processes and modules being discussed in detail below,constants and temporary data all used by the CPU. The flash memoryprovides non-volatile program and constant storage. Inasmuch as DRAMprovides faster access than flash memory, during a power-on boot phase,the boot program is executed to load the executable program code intoDRAM, from which the program code is then executed. As will be discussedin detail below, to prevent errant execution, while the LAN modem isidling, a preemptable background process executes with, e.g., a lowestexecution priority (specifically Firmware Assurance Manager process 1700which will be discussed below in conjunction with FIG. 4A and in detailin conjunction with FIG. 17) to continually compare the entireexecutable program stored in the DRAM, on a location-by-location basis,with that stored in flash memory to assure integrity of the former. Inthe event a discrepancy is detected, the contents of a location in theflash memory are copied to a corresponding location in the DRAM toeliminate the discrepancy. A portion of the flash memory is also used tostore and provide access to so-called "Stac" data compression tables foruse in implementing B-channel data compression. Inasmuch as so-called"Stac" compression itself is well-known, we will not discuss the Staccompression algorithm itself in any further detail. Furthermore, theDRAM also stores source- and destination-based routing tables; thesetables are discussed in considerable detail below. Integrity of theprogram code stored in the flash memory is assured, as described indetail below, through a key-based software lock which strictly limitsthose instances where write-access is permitted to the flash memory.

CPU 330 is implemented by illustratively a 68EN302 central processingunit (CPU) platform which is currently commercially available, as asingle integrated circuit, from Motorola Corporation of Schaumberg, Ill.This platform provides, inter alia, a core 68000-type microprocessor,internal RAM, various timers, a reduced instruction set (RISC)controller and an Ethernet controller (all of which is not explicitlyshown). CPU 300 also contains three HDLCs (high-level data linkcontrollers--also not specifically shown), each of which is allocated bythe CPU, under program control, to a different one of the 64Kbits/second B-channels or the 16 Kbits/second D-channel to control datatransmission and reception thereover. These HDLCs along with ISDNinterface 310 collectively implement, in hardware, an ISDN BRI,specifically all ISDN layer 1 functionality. ISDN interface 310 isconventional and contains ISDN transceiver 312 and analog front end 314,the latter containing a transformer, common mode choke, transientsuppressor, ferrite beads, diode bridge and an ISDN DC terminationcircuit--all of which are not specifically shown. In essence, thetermination circuit provides a polarity insensitive dc termination forloop-sealing current and a recognizable signature for mechanized looptesting systems. Interface 310, specifically transceiver 312 therein,bi-directionally passes, i.e., receives and transmits, incoming andoutgoing B and D-channel packets between analog front end 314 and, viabus 390, CPU 330. The output of interface 310 is connected, via leads40, to an ISDN BRI subscriber line. Display latch 335, which isconnected to CPU 330, is set by the CPU, under program control, toappropriately energize suitable front panel indicators, specificallylight emitting diodes (LEDs), on the LAN modem to indicate its currentoperational status.

Analog line interfaces 350, which contain identical interfaces 350₁ and350₂, are used to interface LAN modem 300 to analog device ports 25, andparticularly to two standard analog telephone devices, via output leads25₁ and 25₂ (each having a tip and ring pair "T/R"), each terminating ina conventional RJ-11 jack (not specifically shown). Each interface, ofwhich interface 350₁ is typical and will be specifically discussed,interfaces LAN modem 300, particularly ISDN router 305 therein, to acorresponding one of two analog telephone devices, connected via leads25₁ and 25₂. In particular, interface 350₁ contains codec(coder-decoder) 352, dual-tone multi-frequency (DTMF) receiver 354,subscriber loop interface circuit (SLIC) 356 and analog front end 358.Codec 352 converts B-channel digital data appearing on bus 390 anddestined for, e.g., an analog telephone device (such as, e.g., atelephone or facsimile machine) connected to leads 25₁, into aconventional analog telephony form. Analog front end 358 contains aconventional analog hybrid circuit, not specifically shown, whichinjects appropriate analog tones into tip and ring lines of an analogtelephone device port, and provides echo cancellation and battery feedfunctions. DTMF receiver 354 collects DTMF tones appearing on the analogline, e.g., line 25₁, connected to the interface and applies the tonesto SLIC 356. The SLIC provides conventional analog telephony(POTS--plain old telephone service) functions of: DC battery feed,over-voltage, ringing, two-wire supervision, two-to-four wire hybrid,and test functions, as well as current limiting, on-hook transmission,tip-open and loop-current protection.

Each HDLC controller has an associated software-implemented devicedriver. Under an event-driven software-implemented supervisor, CPU 330,in view of current resource requests and then available hardwareresources, assigns and binds a given controller and its associateddriver to a particular hardware resource in order to either handle adesired ISDN connection (e.g., call send or receive) or, e.g.,dynamically switch the functionality of a given B-channel to handle avoice call (or revert back to a data connection) during an on-going ISDNconnection.

Within serial EPROM and watchdog timer 380, the Ethernet address of theLAN modem itself, and other fixed configuration information such as aserial number of the LAN modem, is stored within the EPROM and seriallyread therefrom during initialization of the LAN modem. The watchdogtimer is periodically reset, under program control, by the CPU. However,should the timer not be reset in the event of a failure condition, thetimer will time-out and generate a suitable pulse to reset andre-initialize the CPU and hence the LAN modem, and thus attempt toreturn the LAN modem to its proper operation.

ISDN router 305 also contains 10 Mbit/second 10 baseT Ethernet hub 340,which is illustratively implemented by a single integrated circuit, toprovide an internal LAN with external Ethernet ports 15. This hub isdirectly connected to CPU 330 and is controlled by the Ethernetcontroller internal to the CPU. Hub 340 provides four Ethernet ports 15,specifically Ethernet ports 15_(a), 15_(b), 15_(c) and 15_(d), to whichfour separate workstations 10 (see FIG. 1) (or other suitable networkdevices) can be connected. Though in this embodiment, hub 340 is sizedto accommodate four Ethernet devices, larger hubs can be used toaccommodate additional Ethernet ports, as desired. The routing tables,host lists and network service provider lists as well as other aspectsof the software, all being described in detail below, would need to besuitably modified to accommodate an increased number of workstations;however, the manner of doing so would be readily apparent to thoseskilled in the art.

2. Software Architecture

Given the above hardware description of LAN modem 300, we will now focuson describing the software. The reader should now refer to FIG. 4A whichdepicts a high-level diagram of the overall software that executes inthe LAN modem.

As shown, this software, stored in memory 370, contains operating system(O/S) 4010 and application programs 4020. Inasmuch as details of theoperating system are not relevant to the present invention, all suchdetails will be omitted from the ensuing discussion.

Application programs 4020 are formed of a collection of applicationprocesses and modules, most of which execute with relatively highpriority--and are grouped as application software 400 shown in FIG. 4A,but with one, Firmware Assurance Manager process 1700, that is fullypreemptable and executes at a relatively low, e.g., lowest, prioritylevel. Hence, for all practical purposes and to facilitateunderstanding, Firmware Assurance Manager process 1700 is shown as atask within background tasks 4030. As noted above and as will bediscussed in detail below, to prevent errant program execution, wheneverthe LAN modem, specifically the CPU therein, is to enter an idle state,e.g., not transferring data from one portion of the LAN modem toanother, process 1700 will then execute to continually check theintegrity of the executable program copy then residing within DRAM 372(which is actually executed by CPU 330--see FIG. 3) by comparing thatcopy, on a location-by-location basis, with the executable version thenstored in flash memory 376. Should process 1700, shown in FIG. 4A,detect any unexpected discrepancy between these two copies of theexecutable program code, then, at each memory location in the DRAM atwhich such a discrepancy exists, process 1700 will copy the contents ofthe corresponding location in the flash memory to a correspondinglocation in the DRAM to eliminate the discrepancy. O/S 4010 interruptsand completely preempts execution of process 1700 whenever any process,within application software 400, then needs to be executed. Execution ofprocess 1700 then resumes once the CPU is to return to an idle state.

FIG. 4B depicts an architectural block diagram of software 400 thatcollectively executes as foreground tasks shown in FIG. 4A. As indicatedin a key shown in FIG. 4B, thick solid lines denote data paths; thickand thin dashed lines denote signaling and configuration informationpaths, respectively; and thin solid lines denote other processinteractions.

As shown, overall functionality of software 400 can be divided into fourbasic sections: configuration section 405, data section 410, callcontrol section 460 and voice section 480. Voice section 480 is directedto analog (commonly referred to as "voice") telephony connectionsprovided through analog telephone device ports 25 (as shown in FIG. 1).

Generally speaking, configuration section 405, shown in FIG. 4B,contains Configuration Manager process 401 and Firmware Upgrade process(FU) 402. Process 401 properly configures, e.g., initializes, andexecutes various software processes in the LAN modem. FU process 402strictly limits when information can be written into flash memory 376(see FIG. 3), thus substantially minimizing a chance that the contentsof the flash memory could become corrupted.

Data section 410, shown in FIG. 4B, controls transmission and receptionof data packets, i.e., B-channel packets, between the LAN, to whichworkstations 10 (see FIG. 1) are connected, and the appropriate ISDNB-channels to which the LAN modem is then connected.

Call control section 460 interacts with a local ISDN switch at atelephone central office to establish and terminate ISDN calls in orderto appropriately route traffic between the LAN, via the switch and PSTN,and a remote network, or to connect a near-end analog telephone deviceconnected to the LAN modem, via the ISDN switch and PSTN, to a called orcalling far-end device.

Voice section 480 establishes and terminates analog telephone voiceconnections, over an appropriate B-channel(s), involving either one (orboth) of analog telephone device ports 25 provided by the LAN modem.

LED Driver 490, though not specifically contained within any of sections405, 410, 460 and 480, suitably energizes, under program control, LEDindicators (see FIG. 3) to indicate current status information,respectively.

In particular, upon power-up of the LAN modem, Configuration Manager401, shown in FIG. 4B, is the first process to be executed, with it, inturn, spawning all other processes and applications, as needed. In thatregard, the Configuration Manager launches, controls and terminates, asneeded, the execution of various software processes and applicationsthat collectively establish an ISDN connection, properly handleB-channel data packet traffic during that connection and terminate theISDN connection at the conclusion of the call. Furthermore, if the LANmodem has not yet been initially configured, Configuration Manager 401updates certain portions of local database 416 with data representingthe present configuration of the LAN modem and its users. The databasecollectively stores, e.g.: a serial number, product name and softwareversion of the LAN modem; an Ethernet address of the LAN modem; an IPaddress and subnet mask of the LAN modem itself; status information asto whether DHCP (dynamic host control protocol) server 418 and DNS(domain name system) server 421, shown in FIG. 4B, in the LAN modem areeach currently enabled or not; a range of private IP addresses availablefor assignment to the workstations that connect to the LAN; anindication as a type of ISDN switch to which the LAN modem is connectedand the SPIDs associated with the ISDN directory numbers assigned to theLAN modem; various usage parameter values, such as minimum call connecttime and inactivity periods; and a profile for each workstationconnected to the LAN; and a profile for each different network serviceprovider that can be accessed by one or more of the workstations throughthe LAN modem. Various portions of this information, such as the serialnumber, product name, and private IP address range are initially storedin the EPROM (within EPROM and watchdog timer 380 shown in FIG. 3) andafter a power-on reset has occurred, copied into the flash memory.

To digress slightly, FIGS. 13A and 13B respectively depict host list1300 and provider list 1350 which are also both stored within DRAM 372(see FIG. 3), and used by our inventive source-based routing process.

Host list 1300, as shown in FIG. 13A, contains stored host profileshaving an entry for each separate workstation (host) that can beconnected to the LAN. For each host, its corresponding entry, of whichentry 1310 is typical, specifies its machine name, its IP address andits Ethernet address. In addition, each host entry contains permissiondata which specifies, for each network service provider (SP) accessiblethrough the LAN modem, those providers which that particular host canaccess. Initially, during a system power-up occurring after a factorydefault reset, and as shown in FIG. 13A, for each different host, thename of that host is set to indicate an unknown value, e.g.,"UnknownPC₋₋ 1" for host 1; the IP address for that host is set to adifferent private IP address within a specified range, e.g.,"IPAddress₋₋ 1"; the Ethernet address for that host is set to zero; andpermission is granted to that host to access all network serviceproviders. Initially the LAN modem assigns itself a private IP addressof illustratively 192.168.1.1, as a default value, with each host entrybeing assigned a different default private IP address within the range192.168.1.2 to 192.168.1.5. Should the address of the LAN modem changeto place the LAN modem on the same subnet as a workstation, then thedefault IP address in each host entry will be automatically changedaccordingly such that the LAN modem and all the hosts are always on thesame subnet. Though the preferred embodiment of the LAN modemillustratively accommodates four hosts and four network serviceproviders, list 1300 can be readily extended, as shown, to accommodateany number of, e.g., m, hosts and, e.g., n, network service providers(where m and n are integers).

Network service provider list 1350, shown in FIG. 13B, contains aseparate entry for each network service provider for which the LAN modemhas been configured to access. Though the preferred embodiment of theLAN modem accommodates four different (user-defined) network serviceproviders, hence necessitating four separate entries 1350₁, 1350₂, 1350₃and 1350₄, in list 1350; this list and hence the LAN modem can bereadily expanded to afford access to any number, e.g., n (correspondingto entry 1350_(n)), of different pre-defined network service providers.For any such predefined network service provider, its correspondingentry (of which 1350₁ is typical) specifies: its name; its ISDNdirectory telephone number; a valid user account (USER ID) thereon; apassword for that account; whether that provider (ISP) is an Internetservice provider or a private network (CPN) if that service provider isa private network, whether the Internet can be accessed through thatnetwork; if that service provider is a private network, the networkidentification (including, e.g., IP address of the provider and subnetmask pairs) and domain name thereof; and other fields not relevanthereto. Any host profile can be updated by the Configuration Manager inresponse to user entry of new configuration data.

Returning to FIG. 4B, database 416 is directly accessed from flashmemory 376. This database is queried by various processes, as discussedbelow, to provide status and configuration information, as needed, foruse in properly establishing, maintaining and terminating ISDNconnections, and properly routing packet traffic between a remotenetwork and any of the workstations connected to the LAN or any of thetwo analog telephone devices connected to the LAN modem; or among theworkstations themselves, as appropriate.

To control the integrity of the contents of flash memory 376 (see FIG.3), specifically program code and data stored therein, FU process 402,shown in FIG. 4B, implements a key-based lockout to greatly limit thoseinstances, as well as the time intervals thereof, during which the flashmemory is writeable, i.e., during which an operating mode of the flashmemory is changed from read-only to read/write. Through such a lockout(which is described in detail below in conjunction with FIG. 16), thecontents of the flash memory can be changed only when a requestingprocess presents an appropriate key, that matches a correspondingpredefined key, and a write flash request has been received from, e.g.,a remote file server, to initiate writing new firmware into the flashmemory. Collectively, Firmware Assurance Manager process a₁ whichexecutes as, e.g., a lowest-priority background application process, andFU process 402 attempt to minimize any corruption to and continuallymaintain the integrity of the firmware executing within the LAN modem.In addition, key controlled access, though not under control of the FUprocess, is used to limit write access to the flash memory for profilemodifications.

Data section 410 contains drivers, local applications, processes, storedweb page components and page templates, a web server and routing tables.

The processes include TCP/IP process 425, PPP daemon process 440,secondary router (SR) 450 and Bandwidth Manager (BM) 453. Of theseprocesses, TCP/IP process 425 implements a basic routing engine in theLAN modem. In that regard, process 425, living at the heart of datasection 410, conventionally implements the TCP/IP protocol stack anddestination-based routing. This process provides all processing for IP,TCP (transmission control protocol), UDP (user datagram protocol) andARP (address resolution protocol) protocols. This process also providesa standard and conventional "sockets" interface to various localapplications situated at the top of the stack, such as Telnet server411, HTTP (hypertext transfer protocol) daemon 415, DHCP server 418 andDNS server 421; and a common network interface to all drivers situatedat the bottom of the stack. In particular, process 425 accepts incomingIP packets from the LAN, as supplied by Ethernet driver 428. In thatregard, each of these packets, as conventionally occurs, wasencapsulated, as payload data, within an Ethernet packet and isextracted therefrom by Ethernet driver 428. As such, process 425 eitherroutes the IP packet to either one of the local applications orprotocols for processing, based on a protocol ID and well-known portnumber contained within the packet, or, with appropriate IP address andport number translation as needed and discussed below, onward to theappropriate B-channel for carriage over a remote network. Specifically,if the IP address of the packet matches that of the LAN modem, then thelocal application to which the packet is routed is determined by aprotocol ID and port number contained in the packet itself. This routingwill be fully described below in detail in conjunction with PrimaryRouter (PR) process 1100 shown in FIG. 11. In addition, during asoftware upgrade, TCP/IP process 425 routes incoming packets withreplacement code, via an ISDN networked connection to a remote fileserver or from a LAN connection to a workstation, to FU process 402 forwriting suitable replacement code into the flash memory.

PPP daemon process 440 implements the conventional and widely known PPPprotocol for a given data connection between a workstation and itsremote PPP peer, e.g., a network service provider. Specifically and tothe extent relevant, the PPP protocol is comprised of three majorcomponents (layers), all of which are advantageous for use in an ISDNnetworked connection: (a) a link control protocol (LCP) forestablishing, configuring and testing an end-to-end data-link, e.g.,ISDN, connection, and authentication protocols for authenticating thatconnection; (b) a multi-link PPP layer for utilizing both B-channelssimultaneously; and (c) a network layer which consists of networkcontrol protocols (NCPs), a compression control protocol (CCP) forcontrolling data compression, and Bandwidth Allocation Control Protocol(BACP) for controlling addition and removal of a second multi-linkchannel. With this in mind, once an ISDN connection has been connected,the PPP daemon negotiates, upon user request, with a remote PPP peer asto whether multi-link PPP is to be used or not over that connection. Inparticular, once the LCP protocol has been successfully negotiated,daemon process 440 then monitors and authenticates, through suitableauthentication protocols (e.g., password authentication protocol andchallenge handshake authentication protocol--both of which are notspecifically shown), the users on both sides of the connection; andmonitors the IP protocols in use on both sides of the connection. Afterauthentication, then, per user request, daemon process 440 establishes amulti-link PPP connection, if desired and supported by the PPP peer, inorder to utilize both B-channels for data transport during a common ISDNcall, hence creating a single virtual digital channel providing, withuse of compression, as much as 256 Kbits/sec of available bandwidth; anddetermines whether, through the network layer protocols and specificallythrough appropriate negotiation of the compression control protocol(CCP), whether compression will be performed by the LAN modem. If CCPhas been successfully negotiated, then Compression/decompression module438 provides local "Stac" compression and decompression of packet data.Furthermore, multi-link PPP involves segmenting, at a transmitting DCE,a message frame into sub-frames and simultaneously sending sub-framesover both B-channels whereupon, at a PPP peer, those sub-frames areproperly re-assembled and re-ordered to reconstitute the single messageframe. PPP daemon process 440 performs this segmentation for outgoingpackets, emanating from the LAN modem, over each B-channel andre-assembly for incoming IP packets, to the LAN modem, from each suchchannel.

PPP daemon process 440 also interacts with IP/Port Number Translationmodule 435 and SR process 450.

The IP Address/Port Number Translation module provides network addresstranslation (NAT), between private and public IP Address/address pairs,to permit users at multiple workstations to simultaneously share asingle user account at a network service provider, such as an ISP. Thisprocess ensures that IP packets, based on their transit directionthrough LAN modem 300, i.e., directed to workstations on the LAN or tothe remote network, will contain proper IP addresses to delineatecorrect sources and destinations to facilitate sharing of a singlenetwork, e.g., ISP, account. In this regard, module 435 will translatethe private IP source addresses of all outgoing packets from the LANinto a single public IP source address, i.e., that associated with theLAN modem itself (and either statically or dynamically assigned to theLAN modem) and substitute that address for the private IP address withineach of these outgoing packets. These packets with the substitutedpublic address are then provided by daemon process 440 to B-channeldriver 442 for transport, over an appropriate B-channel(s), to thenetwork service provider. Hence, the LAN modem will effectivelymultiplex all these outgoing packets onto a common network connection.

Similarly, incoming IP packets from the common network service provider,and provided via driver 442, will possess a single common publicdestination IP address. Module 435 will translate that single publicdestination IP address in each of these incoming packets into anappropriate private IP address of the corresponding workstation to whichthat packet should be destined. For each such incoming packet, module435 substitutes the private IP address for the public address in thatpacket and then provides the resulting packet, via PPP daemon process440, to TCP/IP process 425. Hence, the LAN modem effectivelyde-multiplexes all these incoming packets to separate networkconnections on the LAN.

This translation also encompasses suitably translating the port numberfield in the IP packets (specifically the source port number field, ifthe packet is traveling on the LAN in a direction toward the networkservice provider; or the destination port number field, if the packet istraveling on the LAN in a reverse direction, i.e., to a workstation).The port number field, in this instance, specifies the particular TCP orUDP application session, such as for Telnet, HTTP, FTP, or some otherapplication, for which the packet is either destined to or from which itis emanating. This translation ensures uniqueness of a set ofsource/destination IP addresses, protocol ID and source/destination portnumbers in packets that flow between unique client/server applicationsand pass through the LAN modem, and hence provides unambiguous internalpacket routing in the LAN modem between all the client hosts (i.e.,workstations) connected to the LAN modem and associated remote serversconnected thereto via an ISDN connection(s).

The IP address translation is effectuated through our inventivetwo-level source-based addressing. As discussed below in conjunctionwith FIGS. 10, 11, 12A-12D, this addressing relies on using bothdestination and source IP addresses. Destination IP addresses for eachhost are stored within Destination-Based Routing Table (DBRT) 432; whileB-channel and service provider information are stored withinSource-Based Routing Table (SBRT) 446. Both of these tables are solelymaintained in DRAM 372 within memory 370 (see FIG. 3). DBRT 432 is usedby TCP/IP process 425, shown in FIG. 4B, to first determine whether anIP packet is destined for a particular workstation (host) on the LAN,one of the local applications executing within the LAN modem, or aremote destination, such as a remote network. Should a packet bedestined or incoming from a remote network, hence requiringpublic-private IP address translation, IP address/port translation (NAT)module 435, in conjunction with addressing information stored with SBRT446, provides the public-private address translation (including portnumber translation, if required), when necessary. NAT module 435contains suitable public and private source and destination IP addressinformation and source and destination port number designations forpackets then to be carried over that channel. The specific algorithmwhich implements address translation will be discussed below inconjunction with FIGS. 10, 11 and 12A-12D.

A description of the algorithm used for Network Address Translation(NAT), in essence, is provided in K. Egevang and P. Francis in"Informational RFC (Request for Comment) 1631", Internet EngineeringTask Force (IETF), May 1994, which is incorporated by reference herein.An end-to-end connection between a client application running on aworkstation on the LAN side and a server application on the RemoteNetwork (on the WAN side) is identified by the following parameters: (a)source and destination IP addresses; (b) Protocol number (to identifythe Transport layer protocol, on top of IP, such as TCP or UDP); and (c)Source and destination Port numbers (to identify the applications on topof TCP or UDP).

As shown in FIG. 2C, all traffic generated towards the LAN modem fromthe Remote Network side will be directed to IP address 198.6.1.1. TheLAN modem will have to demultiplex this traffic and deliver it to theappropriate workstation on the LAN. This will always require atranslation from IP address 198.6.1.1 to 192.168.1.2-5. In the otherdirection, the LAN modem will have to multiplex the traffic frommultiple LAN side workstations to the same WAN connection. This willalways require a translation from IP addresses 192, 168.1.2-5 to198.6.1.1.

A translation may also be required in the LAN side Port number field(Source Port number field, if the packet is going in the LAN to RemoteNetwork direction; in Destination Port number field, if the packet isgoing towards a workstation on the LAN). This translation will be neededto ensure the uniqueness of the set of Source/Destination IP addresses,Protocol number and Source/Destination Port numbers, in packets flowingbetween unique client/server applications and passing through the LANmodem. Port number translation is effectuated by selecting an availableport number from a range and searching existing entries in a NAT tableto determine if this selected port number is already in use. If thenumber is free, that number is then used as a translated port number.Alternatively, if the selected number is in use, a next successive portnumber is selected, and so on, to locate a free port number for use intranslation. As an example, assume that the workstations with IPaddresses 192.168.1.2 and 192.168.1.4 wish to communicate with the sameserver application on the same workstation on the Remote Network (havingan IP address IP₋₋ w1). Assume that the TCP protocol has to be used(Protocol number=6), and that the server application is Telnet (Portnumber=23) in both cases. If both workstations, 192.168.1.2 and192.168.1.4, select the same port number (for example, Port number=12)on their side to identify their client applications, then this portnumber must be translated by the LAN modem (for one of the workstations)to be able to unambiguously route packets (since on the WAN side of theLAN modem, 192.168.1.2 and 192.168.1.4 will be translated to 198.6.1.1).Without port number translation, packets coming to the LAN modem fromthe WAN side, with Source IP address IP₋₋ w1, Protocol number 6, SourcePort number 23, Destination IP address 198.6.1.1, and Destination Portnumber 12 will be unroutable (because LAN modem will not know whether tosend a packet to workstation 192.168.1.2 or 192.168.1.4).

FIG. 13C depicts the structure of Destination-Based Routing Table 432.As shown, this table contains two entries: entries 1352 and 1354. Theseentries specify an outgoing network connection to be used, i.e., theEthernet LAN or an ISDN connection, for a packet being routed to a givendestination, other than the LAN modem itself. In that regard, TCP/IPprocess 425 will access this table, for each outgoing packet other thanthose for the LAN modem itself (such as for one of local applications1000), using the destination IP address of that packet, to locate anentry in the table that contains that address. The entry will specify anoutgoing network interface to be used in routing the packet onward.Specifically, for the example shown in the figure, for packets having adestination IP address of, e.g., 192.168.1.0 and a subnet mask of255.255.255.0, table 432, through entry 1352, specifies that each suchpacket is to be routed over the LAN. Hence, those packets will beapplied by TCP/IP process 425 to Ethernet driver 428 for subsequentrouting over the LAN. Should the IP address of the LAN modem change fromits default value, the LAN address will be changed accordingly.Alternatively, for packets that contain any other destination IP address(when the table is accessed for such packets, the address will be thoseother than the IP address of the LAN modem itself), then table 432,specifies through entry 1354, that such packets (with any subnet mask)will be routed over an ISDN connection. Hence, these packets will beapplied by TCP/IP process 425 to PPP daemon 440 for subsequent routingover the proper B-channel to an appropriate network service provider.

FIG. 13D depicts the structure of Source-Based Routing Table 446. Thistable is updated by SR process 450 and stored within DRAM 372 in memory370 shown in FIG. 3.

As shown in FIG. 13D, this table contains entries 1390, each of whichspecifies the status of a current ISDN connection to a workstation onthe LAN. Inasmuch as the preferred embodiment of the LAN modemaccommodates four workstations, then SBRT 446 need only contain eightsuch entries 1390 with two entries per workstation. In that regard,entries 1390₁ contains separate entries 1390₁₁ and 1390₁₂ forworkstation (host) 1, entries 1390₂ contains individual entries 1390₂₁and 1390₂₂ for host 2, and so forth for the remaining hosts (in thepreferred embodiment these hosts are illustrative workstations 10_(a),10_(b), 10_(c) and 10_(d) shown in FIG. 1). This table can be readilyexpanded to accommodate m different workstations through inclusion ofadditional entries, here being up to entries 1390_(m) shown in FIG. 13Dcontaining entries 1390_(m1) and 1390_(m2) for host m. Each entryspecifies, through separate fields, the number of the B-channel in usefor that connection (channel B₁, B₂ or both), whether the PPP ormulti-link PPP protocol has been successfully negotiated and is in usefor that a₂. Furthermore, to expedite packet routing over establishedconnections to any permitted network service provider, a network ID foreach such permitted service provider for the corresponding host iscached, in separate fields as cached data 1392, within each entry in theSBRT. For each permitted network service provider, the network IDincludes an IP address of that provider and subnet mask pairs therefor.

As noted above and now returning to FIG. 4B, the LAN modem also includesweb server 412. This server is used to initially configure the routerand thereafter to indicate network failure messages. The advantagesinherent in employing an internal web server will now become clear,though we again divert somewhat from our discussion of FIG. 4B but nowto broadly discuss this inventive aspect.

In particular, commercially available routers are typically configuredthrough an external PC that is connected to the router through RS-232serial ports on both the router and the PC. Configuring a router in thisfashion not only requires a serial port on the router, and associatedinternal interface circuitry, but also a proprietary configurationprogram that must be executed on the PC in order to properly set, interalia, network parameters in the router. Such a connection has beentraditionally required for the simple reason that until such a routerwas configured with its proper network addresses, specifically its IPaddress and subnet mask, packets could simply not be routed to it over anetwork connection--the router generally being unreachable by anynetwork device. Inasmuch as the serial port was used just to configurethe router, and generally just to enter proper network addresses, thisport was generally used rather infrequently and oftentimes only onceduring the service life of the router. Inclusion of such a serial portand proprietary software not only added cost to the router itself butalso properly specifying the network addresses was oftentimes rathertedious and time-consuming, thereby burdening its installer and furtherincurring additional cost.

Advantageously, ISDN router 305 (see FIG. 3) dispenses with the need touse any serial port as well as any proprietary software in order toconfigure the LAN modem.

In accordance with the teachings of the present invention and returningto FIG. 4B, software architecture 400 of the LAN modem also includes webserver 412, together with, as part of local TCP/IP applications 1000,HTTP process 415 and DHCP server 418. Together, these three componentspermit the router to configure itself, through any workstation connectedto the LAN, by interacting with a standard commercially available webbrowser (such as Netscape Navigator available from Netscape Corporationor Internet Explorer available from Microsoft Corporation) executing onthat workstation and regardless of whatever the IP address of theworkstation happened to be at the time. In essence, and as described inconsiderable detail below in conjunction with Initial Configurationprocedure 900 shown in FIGS. 9A-9C, whenever the LAN modem is taken"right out of the box", connected to a workstation, using static IPaddressing, and then energized for the first time, the IP address of theLAN modem will utilize a default value that, in all likelihood, willhave a subnet value that will not match that of the workstation. Whilesuch a mis-match would totally frustrate any network communicationbetween a conventional router and a workstation connected to it over anEthernet connection, the LAN modem surmounts this deficiency byautomatically adapting its current network settings in order toestablish network communications with the workstation and illustrativelywith a web browser executing thereat. Specifically, the LAN modemcalculates, given the IP addresses of the workstation and the LAN modem,a subnet address for the LAN modem that places both the LAN modem andthe workstation on the same subnet. Finally, the LAN modem stores the IPaddress and subnet values for the LAN modem in database 416 andautomatically resets the LAN modem so that these addresses, includingthe subnet address, over-ride the default values. Thereafter, theworkstation and the LAN modem communicate through the web browser andthe hypertext transport protocol.

If the workstation is using dynamic IP addressing, then, in response tonetwork IP packets broadcast from the workstation, specifically DHCPrequest packets generated by the workstation, DHCP server 418 assigns anavailable IP address to the workstation and then suitably notifies theworkstation of this address. The DHCP server obtains the Ethernetaddress and name of the workstation from the DHCP Request packet.

As such, and in response to a DNS request packet from theworkstation--as discussed in detail below, web server 412 will thendynamically construct a default web page through which the user canchoose to configure the LAN modem. Should the user then choose toconfigure the LAN modem, the web server will generate a predefinedsequence of graphical web pages with user entry fields through which auser at the workstation will interactively enter network parameters andother required data to properly configure the LAN modem. Once all thedata has been entered, the LAN modem will have been completelyconfigured. Later, by appropriately accessing the web server within theLAN modem and selecting an appropriate "hotlink" to a top-levelconfiguration page, the user can then re-configure the LAN modem asdesired. While the configuration is generally accomplished through a webbrowser executing on the workstation, other client based TCP/IPapplications, such as telnet, can be used instead to configure thebrowser.

Rather than maintaining a file store containing a file for each separatepredefined web page in its entirety, particularly those containinggraphics, which are then simply accessed--as is the case withconventional web servers and is costly in terms of memory, web server412 constructs web pages in real-time. These pages are constructed frompredefined stored templates (illustratively, for the preferredembodiment, approximately 600 bytes long) containing hypertext markuplanguage (HTML) code that is common to all pages. For display of any onepage, web server 412 simply accesses the stored code for the templateand dynamically inserts appropriate predefined code segments therein inlieu of so-called "placeholder(s)" in the template based on a specificevent that invoked display of that particular page. These segments canrepresent dialog boxes, graphics, predefined textual messages or,generically speaking, any object, whether HTML or otherwise, that needsto be selectively presented to a user either for display and/or tosolicit a response, such as an item of data or a selection among a listof predefined data values, from the user. The manner through which codefor such a template and all its associated objects is generated and thespecific manner through which web pages are dynamically constructedtherefrom are discussed in detail below in conjunction with FileCreation process 2800 shown in FIG. 28 and illustrative code shown inFIGS. 30A-30B and 31. Since few full web pages are stored, memoryrequirements become rather modest. Collectively, the templates and allpage components are stored within database 416 in flash memory 376 (seeFIG. 3) and, in the preferred embodiment of the LAN modem, consume onlyapproximately 200 Kbytes of storage space. Once a page is constructed byweb server 412 (see FIG. 4B), a file for that page is then provided bythe web server to HTTP process 415 which suitably packetizes andencapsulates that file, using the hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP).The resulting file is provided by HTTP process 415 to TCP/IP process 425for eventual routing, over the LAN, to the associated workstation. Userresponses, in HTTP form, from the workstation to each web page arerouted by TCP/IP process 425 to HTTP process 415 for suitableinterpretation, such as constructing and transmitting a next successivepage to the user or storage of user-supplied configuration data. Webserver 412 stores such user-supplied configuration data within database416 for subsequent access and use. The architecture of web server 412 isdiscussed in considerable detail below in conjunction with FIGS. 18-21,with specific examples of dynamic web page generation being discussedbelow in conjunction with FIGS. 22-27.

Moreover, in the event of a network fault or other condition thataffects a connection to a remote network and/or server thereon,conventional routers do not indicate the specific nature of that faultto any local client connected to the router. This, in turn, relegatesthe user at that client to rely on an error message, in those instanceswhen it is provided by the network, that is often rather cryptic at bestand more often simply not provided at all. In the latter situation, theuser simply waits in basically total ignorance of the fault, i.e., thefault occurs but the user receives no indication of it on, e.g.,his(her) browser. Not only is the user annoyed by this type of faulthandling, but also the user is forced to wait, owing to a lack ofinformation which leads to an expectation (which later proves to beunwarranted) that the fault will resolve itself, which can be rathertime-consuming and frustrating.

Advantageously, the inventive LAN modem also substantially, if nottotally, eliminates these particular deficiencies in the art.

Specifically should such a fault condition arise that affects a remotenetwork connection, via the ISDN B-channel(s), then in use by aworkstation on the LAN, web server 412 in the LAN modem, recognizingthis condition by reading a then current value of a global variablewhich reflects this particular fault, constructs and downloads apredefined web page to the workstation. This page, when displayed by abrowser thereat, informs the user of the specific nature of thatcondition such that the user can then take appropriate action, such as,e.g., establishing a remote session to the network destination at alater time or simply re-transmitting a message. This inventive aspect isdiscussed below in detail in conjunction with FIGS. 22-26.Alternatively, the browser can be executing on a remote host connectedover the ISDN connection to the LAN modem.

As noted above, data section 410 also includes, as local TCP/IPapplications, Telnet 411 and DNS server 421.

Telnet 411, which is conventional in nature, allows a remote computer,of a wide variety, to communicate, as a remote Telnet client, with theLAN modem as a Telnet server, hence bypassing web server 412. Thisapplication is primarily used for debugging the LAN modem and hence islikely to see little use in actual installations. Though, through thisapplication, the LAN modem can be remotely configured via a networkedconnection, either via the LAN itself or through an ISDN networkedconnection, should a need arise to do so.

Furthermore, in accordance with the present inventive teachings, DNSserver 421 provides local name-to-address resolution such that, for userconvenience, each workstation on the LAN can be addressed in terms ofits machine name rather than its IP address. Moreover andadvantageously, DNS server 421, in conjunction with DHCP server 418,operates transparently of any user to acquire machine names of all theworkstations connected to the LAN and then provide suitable machine nameto IP address resolution, as needed, for all communication between theLAN modem and these workstations as well as between any pair ofworkstations themselves. These inventive aspects are discussed below indetail in conjunction with DHCP Induced IP Address Request procedure1400 and DNS Induced IP Address Request procedure 1500 shown in FIGS. 14and 15A-15D, respectively.

For multi-link connections, Bandwidth (BW) Manager (BM) process, shownin FIG. 4B, monitors the number of B-channels allocated to a given ISDNconnection for a data call and, if both channels have been allocated tohandle a given ISDN data call, deallocates one of those channels, onrequest and where a₃ to simultaneously establish another ISDN call to adifferent destination or. This new ISDN call can either be a data callto another remote network destination or an analog voice call to afar-end analog telephone device. This dynamic channel assignment canalso automatically occur whenever, e.g., a user lifts a handset (i.e.,goes "off-hook") of an analog telephone connected to the LAN modem,through either of the analog telephone device ports, during an on-goingISDN call, thereby causing a "call request" or a "call connect" messageto be generated by AU process 481 and hence an appropriate message to beproduced by Call Control process 461.

In particular, assume that both B-channels are allocated, as would occurthrough prior successful negotiation of multi-link PPP, to carry acurrent ISDN data call to a given network service provider. ShouldTCP/IP process 425 need to route a packet to, e.g., a different networkservice provider, an ISDN connection will first need to be establishedfor this new provider. Hence, Call Control (CC) process 461 will send arequest to SR process 450 to ascertain whether the new call can beaccommodated. SR process 450 then passes a request to BM process 453.If, based on a response from the BM process, one of these channels canbe de-allocated, SR process 450 will inform PPP daemon process 440which, in turn, will issue a suitable PPP control message, specificallya Bandwidth Allocation Protocol (BAP) message, to its PPP peer to revertto use of a single B-channel for the current ISDN call. BM process 453will deallocate the channel from the existing data call. CC process 461will then initiate an ISDN call over the now available B-channel. Once alink is established thereover BM process 453 will update its data.Thereafter, whenever the new call is concluded, CC process 461 willsuitably inform SR process 450, which will inform BM process 453accordingly. As a result, the recently allocated B-channel is nowavailable to be re-allocated, where possible, to a different ISDN call,should the need exist. If a multi-link PPP data connection has beensuccessfully negotiated and is currently in progress over the otherB-channel, then daemon process 440 can request use of this now availableB-channel for this connection. If BM process 453 decides that asufficient need exists to utilize the now available second B-channel forthis data connection, the BM will so indicate this to SR process 450. SRprocess 450, in turn, will suitably inform BAP within PPP daemon process440 to establish a connection through the second B-channel. Throughnegotiations with BAP in the PPP peer, if successful, BAP within SRprocess 450 suitably informs the SR process and Control process 461 toissue appropriate signaling messages to establish an ISDN call over theavailable B-channel to the destination of the current data connection.

The drivers used within data section 410 include Ethernet driver 428 andB-channel driver 442. The Ethernet driver, given network packetsreceived from TCP/IP process 425 and destined to any of the workstationsconnected to the LAN, properly assembles, by encapsulating these packetsas payload data within Ethernet packets, and transmits the resultingencapsulated packets, via the Ethernet hub and the Ethernet LAN, to thatworkstation. Driver 428 also receives encapsulated packets from the LANand destined either for the LAN modem itself or a remote network. Inthis case, driver 428 extracts the IP packet from the encapsulatedpacket and applies the former to TCP/IP process 425 for subsequenthandling. For all such encapsulated packets, driver 428 checks theEthernet addresses of each packet for accuracy and performs a cyclicredundancy check (CRC) on the entire encapsulated packet for errordetection. This driver ignores any non-IP packet that might appear onthe LAN. Driver 442 accepts incoming IP packets appearing on the ISDNconnection that are destined for the LAN modem and routes those packetsto PPP daemon process 440 for subsequent processing. All outgoingpackets provided by the PPP daemon process are applied to driver 442which, in turn, buffers each of these packets as needed, andsubsequently transmits each such packets over the appropriate B-channelonward to the remote network for transport to its eventual destination.

Call Control section 460 contains as its high-level software components:Call Control (CC) process 461, Q.931 process 463, Q.921 process 465 andD-channel driver 470.

Call Control process 461 manages system resources within the LAN modemboth from the standpoint of locating available hardware resources andsoftware drivers and allocating those resources and drivers accordinglyto establish analog and digital calls as requested. Call Control process461 receives outgoing call requests from either AU process 481, asdiscussed below, or secondary router (SR) process 450. Upon receipt ofsuch a request from, e.g., SR process 450 (or from AU process 481),process 461 being event driven, will send a "call request" message toand invoke Q.931 process 463. Process 463, which is implemented as afinite state machine, provides appropriate ISDN Q.931 message encodingand decoding for communicating with an ISDN switch to control call setupand tear-down. This process, along with Q.921 process 465, implements,in software, well-known layers 3 and 2, respectively, of ISDN callprocessing. In addition, Q.931 process 463 also includes: (a) automaticswitch detection functionality to automatically detect a type of ISDNswitch to which the LAN modem is connected and appropriately configurethe router accordingly; and also (b) an automatic SPID (service profileidentifier) Wizard process to properly configure the SPIDs for eachdirectory telephone number for the ISDN line connected to the LAN modem.Inasmuch as details of the automatic switch detection and SPID Wizardprocess are not necessary for a full understanding of the presentinvention, then, for further details on these two aspects, the reader isreferred to co-pending U.S. patent application Ser No. 08/852,659,entitled "APPARATUS FOR AN IMPROVED ISDN TERMINAL ADAPTER HAVINGAUTOMATIC ISDN SWITCH DETECTION AND METHODS FOR USE THEREIN" and"APPARATUS FOR AN IMPROVED ISDN TERMINAL ADAPTER HAVING AUTOMATIC SPIDCONFIGURATION AND METHODS FOR USE THEREIN" Ser. No. 08/852,656, now U.S.Pat. No. 6,005,840, both of which were filed on May 7, 1997, commonlyassigned to the present assignee hereof and are incorporated byreference herein.

In any event, to establish an outgoing ISDN data (or B-channel voice)connection, Call Control process 461 first assigns an availableB-channel to that call. Thereafter, Q.931 process 463 issues, over theD-channel, a "call setup" message. This D-channel signaling message, aswell as all other such outgoing D-channel messages generated by Q.931process 463, is applied, in turn, to Q.921 process 465 for properencapsulation in a Q.921 information frame and subsequent transport overthe D-channel, via D-channel driver 470 and ISDN interface 310 (see FIG.3), to the far-end. Once the ISDN connection is fully established, anISDN "call connect" message is delivered by the local ISDN switch, overthe D-channel, to the LAN modem, specifically via D-channel driver 470,shown in FIG. 4B, to Q.931 process 463 executing therein. For anincoming ISDN call, all incoming D-channel signaling messages receivedfrom the ISDN line for that call are applied through ISDN interface 310(see FIG. 3) and D-channel driver 470 to Q.921 and Q.931 processes 465and 463 (shown in FIG. 4B), in seriatim, for appropriate localprocessing and eventually to Call Control process 461 to control theprogress of that call and allocate (or deallocate) appropriate resourcesfor that call, e.g., allocate an available B-channel HDLC driver oranalog line interface (for a B-channel voice call) or deallocate it ifthe call is terminated. D-channel driver 470, together with ISDNinterface 310, collectively implements, in hardware, ISDN layer 1functionality.

TEI Manager 475, in conjunction with Q.921 process 465, requests, duringcall establishment, a so-called "Terminal Endpoint Identifier" (TEI)from the ISDN switch to which the LAN modem is connected. The TEI is aunique (and conventional) identifier used by the LAN modem, and moregenerally any DTE connected to an ISDN switch, to uniquely identifyitself to the switch. The value of this parameter is supplied by theswitch to the LAN modem during initial communication between the switchand the LAN modem and is thereafter used by the LAN modem in eachcommunication with the switch. Inasmuch as the LAN modem merely reflectsthe TEI value supplied to it by the switch in each communication to theswitch, the actual value of the TEI, as assigned by the switch, isimmaterial to the LAN modem. Should Configuration Manager 401 need totear down and re-establish the ISDN connection to the switch,configuration manager 401 will first instruct TEI manager 475 tore-initialize the TEI to effectively inform the switch that the terminaladapter is no longer connected to it, and thereafter instruct the TEImanager to request a new TEI value from the switch for subsequent use.

For a data call, once an ISDN connection is established between the LANmodem and a network service provider, then digital packet data isrouted, on a bi-directional basis through Ethernet driver 428, TCP/IPprocess 425, PPP daemon process 440 and B-channel driver 442 to acorresponding B-channel connected to a remote network accessed throughthat provider.

Voice section 480 contains analog drivers 482, specifically drivers 482₁and 482₂, which operate analog telephone interfaces 1 and 2,respectively. Both of the drivers are themselves controlled by AnalogUnit (AU) process 481. The AU process, given a request for an analogconnection, either for transmitting or receiving an analog (voice) call,assigns and binds an available one of the analog drivers to theparticular analog line interface through which the particular analogdevice is either calling or being called. AU process 481 responds toincoming dialed DTMF digits from that device as well as switch-hookstatus (i.e., off-hook or on-hook), both being detected by theassociated analog line interface to which that device is connected viaanalog telephone device ports 25, and, for an incoming analog call tothe device, generates, in response to a suitable D-channel controlmessage, a suitable signal to the interface to apply a ringing signal tothat device. AU process 481 effectively establishes an internalconnection between a B-channel and an analog line interface, and itsassociated analog device port, and controls communication therebetweenfor the duration of the associated analog call through the LAN modem.

In particular, when a user at the LAN modem causes an analog deviceconnected to the adapter, such as an analog telephone to go "off-hook",i.e., to initiate a call, AU process 481 sends a "call request" messageto Call Control process 461, as described above, to obtain resourcesneeded to complete an analog connection for that device. Whenever AUprocess 481 receives digits from an analog line interface andparticularly a DTMF receiver therein, such as DTMF receiver 354 (seeFIG. 3), AU process 481 issues a "send digits" message, containing thosedigits, to the call control process. Furthermore, whenever AU process481, shown in FIG. 4B, receives an incoming call request from CallControl process 461, such as for a connection via an analog interface,such as interface 350₁, AU process 481 controls the ringer in a localanalog telephone device connected to that interface.

3. Inter-process interactions

With the above overview and hardware and software descriptions in mind,FIGS. 5-8 collectively and diagrammatically depict interactions betweenvarious high-level software processes for implementing different callhandling operations that are performed by the LAN modem. Each of theseoperations and the attendant process interaction will now be discussedin turn. To facilitate understanding during the ensuing discussions, thereader should simultaneously refer to both FIG. 4B and the specificfigure for the operation then being discussed.

a. ISDN call setup due to traffic on LAN

FIG. 5 depicts predominant interactions, in terms of inter-processcommunications, that occur for setting up an ISDN call based on trafficon the LAN.

Let us begin by assuming that a user stationed at a workstation on theLAN has just initiated execution of his(her) web browser. As such, thebrowser will attempt to access its default web page. In doing so, theweb browser will generate an HTTP request, in the form of an appropriateIP packet, to fetch the page. To simplify matters, it is assumed forthis discussion, that the HTTP request contains the correct IP addressof the desired page to be fetched; hence requiring no remote DNStranslation from a uniform resource locator (URL) to that IP address.

The workstation will place this IP packet, as symbolized by line 505,onto the LAN from where it will be received by the LAN modem. At thispoint, the packet needs to be routed to a default gateway establishedfor that user. However, no ISDN connection yet exists between the LANmodem and an appropriate network service provider, e.g., ISP, to handlethat packet.

Within the LAN modem, the incoming IP packet will be sent, as symbolizedby line 510, via Ethernet driver 428 to TCP/IP process 425. Process 425will access Destination-Based Routing Table (DBRT) 432 to determinewhether, from the destination IP address of the packet, that packet isdestined for any one of local applications 1000 on the LAN modem itselfor a remote destination. Inasmuch as this packet is not destined foreither any of local applications 1000 executing on the LAN modem, TCP/IPprocess 425 sends, as symbolized by line 515, the packet to PPP daemonprocess 440 to properly handle the packet. Daemon process 440 checks theprofile for the workstation, stored within database 416, to determinethe proper peer destination, e.g., an ISP or a remote network, for thatpacket. Illustratively, four network service provider profiles can bestored within database 416. Specifically, process 440, based on thesource and destination IP addresses of the packet, will determine whichparticular network service provider should carry that packet. Inaddition, the PPP daemon process through SR process 450, wherein thelatter interrogates Source-Based Routing Table (SBRT) 446, alsodetermines whether an ISDN call is currently established to thatparticular service provider. At this point, it will be assumed that sucha call is not established. In this case, the packet is placed into awaiting queue pending the establishment of an ISDN connection. PPPdaemon process 440 then issues a Call Setup Request message, assymbolized by line 520, to SR process 450 to establish an ISDN call tothe particular service provider that is to carry the now queued packet.

Secondary Router (SR) process 450, in response to the Call Setup Requestmessage, accesses database 416, specifically Network Service Providerlist 1350 (see FIG. 13B), to obtain the ISDN directory number of thedesired network service provider to handle this packet. The Call SetupRequest message, along with the directory ISDN telephone number is thenpassed, as symbolized by line 525 as shown in FIG. 5, to Call Controlprocess 461. Call Control process 461, interacting with Q.931 and Q.921processes 463 and 465, respectively, will establish an ISDN call over anavailable B-channel to this network service provider.

Once an ISDN call has been properly established to the desired networkservice provider, Call Control process 461, in response to appropriatecall completion messages sent to it by Q.931 process 463, will issue, assymbolized by line 530, a Connect Acknowledgement (ACK) Indicationmessage to the secondary router process. The secondary router process,in turn, will issue a Link Establishment Request message containing theuser account and password for the network service provider (to establisha session with that provider), as symbolized by line 535, to instructthe PPP daemon process to establish a network link and negotiatecompression (or not) and multi-link PPP (or not) as specified inconfiguration data stored in database 416. As such, PPP daemon process440 will undertake to negotiate, across the ISDN connection to its peer,all PPP protocols (including network control protocols such as CCP, andmulti-link PPP as specified in the database). In addition, the two PPPpeers will also negotiate whether an IP address of the router will bedynamically assigned by the network service provider, through a DHCPserver thereat, or not (i.e., use of a static public address). Once allthe PPP negotiations are successfully concluded, PPP daemon process 440will suitably update an entry in SBRT 446 to indicate the B-channel(s)in use for this call and the options being used therefor (e.g.,multi-link PPP). In addition, PPP daemon process 440 will suitablyinform the secondary router, by issuance of a Link EstablishmentIndication message and as symbolized by line 540, of the successful PPPnegotiation. The secondary router, in turn, will inform BandwidthManager process 453 accordingly as to the bandwidth of the connectionthen established and the B-channel(s) therefor.

Now with the data connection having been completely and properlyestablished to the desired network service provider, the secondaryrouter will issue a Call Connect Indication message, as symbolized byline 545, back to PPP daemon process 440. In response, the PPP daemonprocess will again check SBRT 446 to verify the B-channel(s) in use forthis call. Once verified, the PPP daemon will remove the packet waitingfor transfer from the waiting queue and will send that packet toB-channel driver 442 for transport to the network service provider overthe B-channel(s) now established for the call. Secondary router 450 willalso issue, as symbolized by line 550, a Call Connect Indication packetto DNS server 421 which instructs the DNS server to save the remotedestination ID, including, e.g., IP address of the network serviceprovider and subnet mask pairs, and B-channel(s) number for thisworkstation.

Any subsequent packets to be carried during this session between thisnetwork service provider and this workstation will simply be routed tothe provider via the LAN, Ethernet driver 428, TCP/IP process 425, PPPdaemon process 440, B-channel driver 442, and the appropriateB-channel(s), as specified by the SBRT 446, connected to this provider.

b. ISDN call setup due to DNS request

FIG. 6 depicts interactions, in terms of predominant inter-processcommunications, that occur within the LAN modem for setting up an ISDNcall based on a DNS (domain name system) request. This interaction issomewhat similar to that shown in FIG. 5; however, here a workstation onthe LAN is requesting translation of a URL into a corresponding IPaddress rather than supplying the correct IP address. Here, theassumption is made that an ISDN call has not been established to anetwork service provider when the workstation issues its DNS request.

Let us begin by assuming that a user stationed at a workstation on theLAN has just initiated execution of his(her) web browser. As such, thebrowser will attempt to access its default web page. In doing so, theweb browser will generate an HTTP request, in the form of an appropriateIP packet, to fetch the page. Here, however, the browser only has a URLfor this page and not its IP address; hence, requiring DNS translationof that URL into a corresponding IP address. Assume that the DNS serverresiding in the LAN modem is already configured to be the DNS server forthe workstation, hence a DNS query will be sent to the DNS server of theLAN modem by the workstation.

The workstation will place this IP packet, as symbolized by line 605,onto the LAN from where it will be received by the LAN modem. At thispoint, the packet needs to be routed to a DNS server for that user.However, no ISDN connection yet exists between the LAN modem and anappropriate network service provider, e.g., ISP, to handle that packet.

Within the LAN modem, the incoming IP packet will be sent, as symbolizedby line 610, via Ethernet driver 428 to TCP/IP process 425. Process 425will access Destination-Based Routing Table (DBRT) 432 to determinewhether, from the destination IP address of the packet, that packet isdestined for any local application on the LAN modem itself or a remotedestination. Inasmuch as this packet is destined for DNS server 421,TCP/IP process 425 sends, as symbolized by line 615, the packet to DNSserver 421. This DNS server will check the stored profiles for thenetwork service provider, given the source IP address of this packet,whether it can perform the URL translation itself or whether that packetneeds to be diverted given its source and destination addresses, to aparticular network service provider. Assuming DNS server 421 can nottranslate the URL, then the packet will need to be routed, over an ISDNconnection to that network service provider, to a remote DNS server fortranslation. Consequently, DNS server 421 interacts, through thesecondary router, with SBRT 446, to determine whether an ISDN connectioncurrently exists to that provider. If no such connection is currentlyestablished, the packet is placed in the waiting queue pending theestablishment of an ISDN connection. A timer is also started to ensurethat a response can be sent to the workstation if the ISDN connectionfails to be established to the chosen network service provider within apredefined period of time, such as 30 seconds. DNS server 421 thenissues a Call Setup Request message, as symbolized by line 620, to SRprocess 450 to establish an ISDN call to the particular service providerthat is to carry the now queued packet.

Secondary Router (SR) process 450, in response to the Call Setup requestmessage, accesses database 416, specifically Network Service Providerlist 1350 (see FIG. 13B), to obtain the ISDN directory number of thedesired network service provider to handle this packet. The Call SetupRequest message, along with the directory ISDN telephone number, is thenpassed, as symbolized by line 625 shown in FIG. 6, to Call Controlprocess 461. Call Control process 461, interacting with Q.931 and Q.921processes 463 and 465, respectively, will establish an ISDN call over anavailable B-channel to this network service provider.

Once an ISDN call has been properly established to the desired networkservice provider, Call Control process 461, in response to appropriatecall completion messages sent to it by Q.931 process 463, will issue, assymbolized by line 630, a Connect Acknowledgement (ACK) Indicationmessage to the secondary router process. The secondary router process,in turn, will issue a Link Establishment Request message containing theuser account and password for the network service provider (to establisha session with that provider), as symbolized by line 635, to instructthe PPP daemon process to establish a network link and negotiatecompression (or not) and multi-link PPP (or not) as specified inconfiguration data stored in database 416. As such, PPP daemon 440 willundertake to negotiate, across the ISDN connection to its peer, all PPPprotocols (including network control protocols such as CCP, andmulti-link PPP as specified in the database). In addition, the two PPPpeers will also negotiate whether an IP address of the router will bedynamically assigned by the network service provider, through a DHCPserver thereat, or not (i.e., use of a static public address). Once allthe PPP negotiations are successfully concluded, PPP daemon process 440will suitably update an entry in SBRT 446 to indicate the B-channel(s)in use for this call and the options being used therefor (e.g.,multi-link PPP). In addition, PPP daemon process 440 will suitablyinform the secondary router, by issuance of a Link EstablishmentIndication message and as symbolized by line 640, of the successful PPPnegotiation. The secondary router, in turn, will inform BandwidthManager process 453 accordingly as to the bandwidth of the connectionthen established and the B-channel(s) therefor.

Now with the data connection having been completely and properlyestablished to the desired network service provider, the secondaryrouter will issue a Call Connect Indication message, as symbolized byline 645, back to PPP daemon process 440. Secondary router 450 will alsoissue, as symbolized by line 650, a Call Connect Indication message toDNS server 421. This message instructs the DNS server to save the remotedestination ID, including, e.g., IP address and subnet mask pairs of thenetwork service provider, and B-channel(s) number for this workstation,and to remove the packet from the waiting queue and send that packetback to the TCP/IP process 425. The destination IP address of the packetwill be changed to the IP address of the DNS server for the remotenetwork service provider. Once this packet is sent, as symbolized byline 655, to TCP/IP process 425, the TCP/IP process will route, assymbolized by line 660, that packet to PPP Daemon process 440. Inresponse, the PPP daemon process will again check SBRT 446 to verify theB-channel(s) in use for this call. Once verified, the PPP daemon processwill send the packet, via B-channel driver 442 and over the B-channel(s)now established for the call, to the particular network service providerfor DNS translation.

Any subsequent packets to be carried during this session between thisnetwork service provider and this workstation will simply be routed tothe provider via the LAN, Ethernet driver 428, TCP/IP process 425, PPPdaemon process 440, B-channel driver 442, and the appropriateB-channel(s), as specified by the SBRT 446, connected to this provider.

c. Incoming ISDN call

FIG. 7 depicts interactions, in terms of predominant inter-processcommunications, that occur in the LAN modem to process an incoming ISDNcall from a remote site. This operation would generally occur only inthose situations where the LAN modem is to be configured from a remotesite.

An incoming ISDN call will be signified by a Call Setup packet beingreceived, as symbolized by line 705, via D-channel driver 470, from thePSTN. In response to this packet, Call Control process 461 will issue,as symbolized by line 710, a Call Indication message to Secondary Router450 to establish a connection over the B-channel specified in the CallSetup packet. In response, the Secondary Router will issue, assymbolized by line 715, a Connect Request Message to complete an ISDNconnection over that B-channel through the LAN modem for the incomingcall.

In response to the Connect Request message, Call Control process 461,interacting with Q.931 and Q.921 processes 463 and 465, respectively,will complete an ISDN connection through the LAN modem over thisB-channel, via the PSTN, to a present caller. Once the ISDN connectionhas been completed, Call Control process 461, in response to appropriatecompletion messages sent to it by Q.931 process 463, will issue, assymbolized by line 720, a Connect Acknowledgement (ACK) Indicationmessage to the secondary router. The secondary router, in turn, willissue a Link Establishment Request message, as symbolized by line 725,to instruct the PPP daemon process to establish a network link andnegotiate compression (or not) and multi-link PPP (or not) with itsfar-end PPP peer. As such, PPP daemon 440 will undertake to negotiate,across the ISDN connection to its peer, all PPP protocols (includingnetwork control protocols such as CCP. Once all the PPP negotiations aresuccessfully concluded, PPP daemon process 440 will suitably update anentry in SBRT 446 to indicate the B-channel(s) in use for this call andthe options being used therefor (e.g., multi-link PPP). In addition, PPPdaemon process 440 will suitably inform the secondary router, byissuance of a Link Establishment Indication message and as symbolized byline 730, of the successful PPP negotiation. The secondary router, inturn, will inform Bandwidth Manager process 453 accordingly as to thebandwidth of the connection then established and the B-channel(s)therefor.

Now with the data connection having been completely and properlyestablished to the caller, the secondary router will issue a CallConnect Indication message, as symbolized by line 735, back to PPPdaemon process 440. Secondary router 450 will also issue, as symbolizedby line 740, a Call Connect Indication message to DNS server 421 whichinstructs the DNS server to save the remote destination ID andB-channel(s) number in use for this call.

Any subsequent packets to be carried between the LAN modem and thecaller will be routed through B-channel driver 442 (and the B-channel(s)for this call), PPP daemon process 440 and TCP/IP process 425 (and anylocal applications 1000 accessible therethrough).

d. ISDN Call Disconnect Due To Idle Timeout

FIG. 8 depicts interactions, in terms of predominant inter-processcommunications, that occur within the LAN modem for disconnecting anexisting ISDN call as a result of an idle timeout condition. Thisoperation arises where an excessive period of inactivity occurs on anexisting ISDN connection. To determine an appropriate level of ISDN callinactivity, two time periods are predefined in software: a minimum callduration of 2 minutes and an idle time interval of 30 seconds. Thesetimers are implemented within Bandwidth Manager process 453. The LANmodem will maintain an ISDN call active for an illustrative minimuminterval of two minutes; however, after this period expires, the callwill be released and the connection torn-down for any period ofinactivity, here referred to as "idle time", that exceeds illustratively30 seconds. These time intervals, which are stored within database 416,are not critical and can be appropriately varied during configuration ofthe LAN modem.

Should an excessive period of inactivity occur, then an idle timeouttimer, implemented within the Bandwidth Manager process, will reach theend of its timing interval and produce an appropriate indication, suchas, e.g., a timer interrupt. In response to the expiration of thistiming interval, an Idle Timeout message, symbolized by line 805, willbe generated by the Bandwidth Manager process and supplied to SecondaryRouter process 450. This message will also contain the B-channel(s) thatis affected and should be taken down. With the channel(s) identified andas symbolized by line 810, the secondary router will generate a LinkTermination Request message to PPP daemon process 440 to terminate theISDN connection on the affected B-channel(s). The PPP daemon processwill then send appropriate network control packets to terminate theconnection on the affected B-channel(s). PPP daemon process 440 willalso inform its far-end peer that the link is being taken down. Oncethese packets have been sent, PPP daemon process 440 will update(specifically "cleanup") SBRT 446 to reflect that the now currentavailability of the affected B-channel(s). Once the SBRT has beenappropriately updated, PPP daemon process 440 will issue, as symbolizedby line 815, a Link Termination Indication message to Secondary Router450 signifying that the ISDN data connection, from the standpoint of thePPP protocols, has, in fact, been terminated. The secondary router, inturn and as symbolized by line 820, will issue a Disconnect Requestmessage, to Call Control process 461. This process, in conjunction withQ.931 and Q.921 processes 463 and 465, respectively, will issueappropriate ISDN signaling messages to the PSTN to disconnect, i.e.,physically terminate, whatever ISDN connection may exist on the affectedB-channel(s). Once this occurs, Call Control 461 issues, as symbolizedby line 825, a Release Indication message to Secondary Router 450. Thesecondary router, in turn, issues, as symbolized by lines 830 and 835,Call Disconnect Indication messages to PPP daemon process 440 and BMprocess 453 and DNS server 421, respectively. In response to thesedisconnect messages, these processes remove any entries previouslyassociated with the now terminated ISDN data connection.

4. Flowchart Depictions

Having now described the inter-process interactions for variousoperations performed by the LAN modem, we will now turn to describing,through the use of flowcharts, the processing, undertaken by CPU 330(see FIG. 3) within ISDN router 305 in the LAN modem, that specificallyimplements various inventive aspects of the LAN modem. As will becomereadily apparent from the following discussion and the accompanyingflowcharts, for several of these aspects, the processing utilizes andextends across several of the software processes contained withinsoftware 400 (shown in FIG. 4B). To facilitate understanding, the readershould simultaneously refer to FIG. 4B throughout the followingdescription.

a. Initial Configuration Procedure

FIGS. 9A-9C collectively depict a flowchart of Initial Configurationprocedure 900 performed by CPU 330; the correct alignment of the drawingsheets for these figures is shown in FIG. 9. As noted above, process 900automatically adapts the current network settings of the LAN modem inorder to establish network communications with the workstation, such asthrough illustratively a web browser executing thereat. Through thiscommunication, a user stationed at the workstation can easily configurethe LAN modem through the browser. This inventive aspect advantageouslyeliminates any need for a serial connection between the workstation andthe LAN modem for purposes of configuring the latter. This procedureprimarily utilizes processes 412, 415, 418, 425 and 428, and database416, all shown in FIG. 4B.

In particular, upon entry into procedure 900 shown in FIGS. 9A-9C,execution proceeds to block 905. This block, when executed, determineswhether the LAN modem is in a factory default state, i.e., whether theLAN modem has changed its IP address from a factory default settingthrough, e.g., an immediately prior execution of procedure 900. If theLAN modem is not in its factory default state, then execution exits fromprocedure 900 via NO path 909 emanating from decision block 905.Alternatively, if the LAN modem is in its factory default state, thendecision block 905 routes execution, via YES path 907, to decision block910.

Decision block 910, when executed, determines if a packet has beenreceived over the LAN. This packet, if it exists, should originate from,illustratively the web browser executing on the single workstation whichis then connected to the LAN. If no such packet has yet been received,execution loops back to the beginning of this block, via NO path 912 andpath 973, to await receipt of this packet. Alternatively, if a packethas indeed been received over the LAN, decision block 910 routesexecution, via YES path 914, to decision block 915. This latter blocktests whether the packet is a unicast or broadcast type packet. If thepacket is from a web browser executing in a workstation using dynamicaddressing, as intended, then at this point in its initial handling ofthe TCP/IP protocol, the workstation is expected to broadcast a packetonto the LAN to provoke a response, from some other entity thenconnected to the network, that identifies a DHCP server. If the packetis a unicast packet, then the packet is simply ignored as beingirrelevant to the configuration process. In this case, execution loopsback from decision block 915, via paths 916 and 973, to block 910pending receipt of the next packet on the LAN. Alternatively, if thereceived packet is a broadcast packet, as expected, then decision block915 routes execution, via path 918, to decision block 920. This latterdecision block routes execution, via one of three paths, depending upona specific type of this broadcast packet. In particular, if thebroadcast packet is other than a DHCP packet or an ARP (addressresolution protocol) Request packet, then decision block 920 routesexecution, via paths 922 and 924, to block 930 to discard this broadcastpacket. Once this packet has been so discarded, then execution loopsback, via paths 932 and 973, to decision block 910 to await receipt ofthe next packet.

Alternatively, if the broadcast packet is a DHCP packet, then decisionblock 920 routes execution, via paths 922 and 926, to decision block935. At this point, the workstation is either inquiring with its peer,in this case DHCP server 418 in the LAN modem, as to the address of DHCPserver or is requesting a DHCP address for itself from a DHCP server.Decision block 935 determines a type of the DHCP packet broadcast by theworkstation. If the workstation has broadcast a DHCP Discover packet,i.e., inquiring as to the identity of a DHCP server, then decision block935 routes execution, via path 936, to block 940. This block, whenexecuted, obtains an IP address from database 416 for DHCP server 418.Block 940 then sends this address to the workstation via a DHCP Offerpacket. Once this packet is sent, execution loops back, via paths 942and 973, to decision block 910 pending receipt of the next packet. Now,if the type of the broadcast DHCP packet is a DHCP Request packet,specifying that the workstation has obtained an IP address of a DHCPserver (in this case server 418) and is now requesting a dynamic IPaddress for itself, decision block 935 routes execution, via path 938,to block 945. At this point, the LAN modem obtains and assigns a dynamicIP address to the workstation. In particular, block 945 queries database416, specifically Host list 1300 (see FIG. 13A) for an available entry.When such an entry is found, the corresponding IP address stored thereinis read. Once this address has been obtained, block 950 executes to sendthis IP address to the workstation via a DHCP ACK (acknowledge) packet.After this packet is sent, execution proceeds to block 955 which savesthe name and Ethernet address of the workstation, obtained from the DHCPRequest packet, in database 416 and specifically within this entry isHost list 1300. As a result, this dynamic IP address is assigned to thisparticular workstation. Thereafter, execution exits from routine 900such that the LAN modem can return to normal operation.

If, however, the type of packet that has been broadcast by theworkstation is an ARP (address resolution protocol) Request packet, thenthe workstation already has an IP address for itself, though it does notknow the Ethernet address of its peer on the LAN, i.e., the LAN modem.It is immaterial to the LAN modem how or where that IP addressoriginated. As will be seen, the LAN modem will utilize that IP address.In particular, an ARP Request packet can occur as a result of thebrowser requesting communication with a DNS server for eventual URL toIP address translation, or with a default gateway should the browserhave the IP address for that URL, or with another local workstation forother communication. In any case, the purpose of the ARP Request packetis for the workstation to obtain the physical Ethernet address of itspeer, here the LAN modem, on the LAN--the workstation also has noknowledge as to the IP address of the LAN Modem. The ARP Request packetwill respectively contain, as sending and destination IP addresses, theIP addresses of the sending workstation and of its target, i.e., its LANpeer or whatever the workstation believes that peer to be at the time,from which the workstation expects a response. Through use of the ARPprotocol, only the target, recognizing its address as the destination,will respond to the ARP packet. For simplification, assume that the IPaddress of the sending workstation is denoted as IP_(s), while that ofits target, i.e., here the LAN Modem, is designated as IP_(t).

At this point, the destination IP address in the ARP Request packet willnot, in all likelihood, match the factory default IP address of the LANmodem. As the reader will now appreciate, to initiate communicationbetween the LAN modem and the workstation, the LAN modem will change itsIP address to match that of the IP peer with which the workstation isattempting to communicate. In particular, if the browser is attemptingto access a default web page and has broadcast an ARP Request packet,containing a destination IP address of a gateway to which it assumes itis then physically connected, in order to obtain a physical networkaddress of that gateway, the LAN modem will change its own IP address tomatch that of the gateway, as well as its subnet mask in order to placeboth the LAN modem and the workstation on the same subnet. Doing so willpermit network communication to then occur between the LAN modem and theworkstation. Subsequently, though not part of Initial Configurationprocess 900, once network communication has been established between theLAN modem and the workstation, then in response to a subsequent requestissued by the browser for a default web page, the LAN modem willdownload a file, constructed by web server 412, that contains a defaulthome page of the LAN modem through which the user at the workstation canthen initiate configuration of the LAN modem.

Specifically, in response to the received ARP Request packet, decisionblock 920 routes execution, via paths 922 and 928, to block 960. Thislatter block sets the target IP address to IP_(t), and the source IPaddress to the directed broadcast IP address of the subnet andbroadcasts an ARP Request packet back onto the LAN. The purpose of doingso is to elicit a response from any other network entity on the LANhaving the same IP address as that sought by the workstation, such asanother workstation--which represents an error condition. If such anetwork entity exists, it will respond to the ARP Request and supply itsown Ethernet address. In addition, block 960 initiates a one-secondtimer. Execution then proceeds to decision block 965 to determinewhether a packet has been received in response to the just broadcast ARPRequest packet. If a response to this just broadcast ARP Request packetis received within the one-second timing interval, then an errorcondition has occurred. In this case, decision block 965 routesexecution, via YES path 966, to block 970. This latter block stops thetimer. Thereafter, execution loops back, via path 973, to decision block910 to await receipt of the next incoming packet on the LAN. If,however, no such response packet is received, then decision block 965routes execution, via NO path 968, to decision block 975. This latterblock determines whether the one-second timing interval has elapsed. Ifthis interval has not elapsed, then decision block 975 routes execution,via NO path 978, back to decision block 965 to continue testing for anoccurrence of such a response during the remainder of this interval.Alternatively, if this interval elapses, then decision block 975 routesexecution, via YES path 976, to block 980. Block 980, when executed,sets the IP address of the LAN modem to the target IP address in the ARPRequest packet broadcast by the workstation; hence setting the IPaddress of the LAN modem to the IP address of a network peer from whichthe browser in the workstation expects a response. Thereafter, block 980stores the IP address of the workstation, i.e., IP_(s), and itsassociated Ethernet address within database 416. Once this occurs, block980, given these IP addresses of the LAN modem and the workstation,calculates an appropriate value of a subnet mask that places both theworkstation and the LAN modem on the same subnet and which canaccommodate a least number of, but no less than three, additional hosts.Block 980 then saves the calculated subnet mask in database 416 as thesubnet mask of the LAN modem. Once this occurs, block 980 determines andsaves at least three more IP addresses in the same subnet withindatabase 416 to accommodate up to three additional workstations that canbe connected to the LAN modem. The IP address assigned to theworkstation and the three additional addresses will each be stored as anIP address within a different host entry in Host list 1300. Thereafter,execution proceeds to block 985 which initiates a reset of the LAN Modemusing its newly set IP address and subnet parameters just stored withindatabase 416. Once the reset occurs, the LAN modem will no longer residein its factory default state and will be able to communicate, over theLAN, with the workstation through the browser then executing therein.

b. Source-Based IP Routing

As discussed above, another inventive aspect of the LAN modem is its useof source-based routing. By routing packets based not only on thedestination IP address of each packet but also and in accordance withour inventive teachings on its source IP address, the LAN modem cansimultaneously accommodate multiple data connections to differentISPs--which is a result not possible with conventional routers.Consequently, through our inventive router, each of two users canadvantageously be connected at the same time, through his(her) ownworkstation and the LAN modem, to his(her) own preferred ISP.

The inventive source-based routing utilizes, as shown in FIG. 10, withinISDN router 305, two separate routing engines in succession,specifically primary router (PR) procedure 1100 and secondary router(SR) procedure 1200--both of which are implemented in software. Primaryrouter procedure 1100 is implemented within TCP/IP process 425 shown inFIG. 4B; secondary router procedure 1200 is implemented within secondaryrouter process 450.

Primary router procedure 1100, shown in FIG. 10, provides conventionalIP packet routing based on the destination of each IP packet applied toit. Incoming packets are first applied, on a packet-by-packet basis, toprimary router 1100 which first routes each such packet, throughDestination-Based Routing Table 432 (not specifically shown in thisfigure; see FIG. 4B), based on its destination IP address. Packetsarrive at the primary router from three sources: from the LAN, from thelocal applications or from the secondary router procedure. For each suchpacket, the primary router has three basic routing choices: (a) to theLAN, e.g., to a workstation thereon; (b) based on a protocol field inthe packet, to one of local applications 1000, including Telnet 411,HTTP 415, DHCP server 418 or DNS server 421 (all of which have beendiscussed above); or (c) lastly, for all other packet destinations, tothe secondary router.

As for the secondary router procedure, incoming packets arrive at iteither from the remote network accessible through ISDN line 40 or fromthe primary router. The secondary router procedure routes all packetsincoming from the remote network to the primary router. Alternativelyand essentially, each incoming packet arriving from the primary routeris routed by the secondary router, as discussed in detail below inconjunction with Secondary Router Procedure 1200 shown in FIGS. 12A-12D,based on its source IP address and specification of permissible networkservice providers, to one of those providers. If a B-channel ISDN dataconnection is not then established to that provider, secondary routerprocess 450 (see FIG. 4B) will instruct other processes, such as CallControl process 461, in the manner discussed above, to establish theconnection over an available B-channel and, once the connection is soestablished, route the packet accordingly.

As discussed above, to accomplish source-based routing, secondary router450 maintains and uses entries in database 416; specifically, Host list1300 and Network Service Provider list 1350, both stored therein (seeFIGS. 13A and 13B). The manner through which these lists are used forsource-based IP routing will be discussed in detail below in conjunctionwith Secondary Router procedure 1200 shown in FIGS. 12A-12D.

FIG. 11 depicts a flowchart of Primary Router procedure 1100. As shown,upon entry into procedure 1100, execution first proceeds to block 1110.This block, when executed, receives an incoming packet from the LAN, oneof local applications 1000 (see FIG. 4B) or from the secondary routerprocedure 1200. Once the packet is received, block 1120, shown in FIG.11, executes to determine the destination IP address of that packet.Thereafter, based on the destination IP address, decision block 1130,next executed, routes execution to one of three paths depending on thisaddress. If the IP address specifies a workstation (host) on the LAN,then decision block 1130 routes execution, via path 1135, to block 1140.This latter block, through accessing entry 1352 in Destination-BasedRouting Table 432 (see FIG. 13C), sends the received packet out to theLAN to the appropriate host thereon among workstations 10 (see FIG. 3).Alternatively, if the destination IP address matches that of the LANmodem and a protocol field specifies one of local applications 1000,then, as shown in FIG. 11, decision block 1130 routes execution, viapath 1135, to block 1150. This latter block routes the received packetto the appropriate local application. Lastly, if the destination IPaddress of the received packet specifies anything other than a host onthe LAN or the LAN modem itself, then decision block 1130 routesexecution, via path 1135, to block 1160. This latter block, throughaccessing entry 1354 in Destination-Based Routing Table 432 (see FIG.13C), routes the received packet to secondary router procedure 1200 foreventual carriage, as specified in this entry over an ISDN connection toa remote network. Once block 1140, 1150 or 1160 has fully executed toappropriately route the received packet based on its destination IPaddress, execution loops back, via path 1165, to await the next incomingpacket.

FIGS. 12A-12D collectively depict a flowchart of Secondary Routerprocedure 1200; the correct alignment of these figures being shown inFIG. 12.

As shown, upon entry into procedure 1200, execution first proceeds toblock 1203 which, when executed, receives an incoming packet. Asdiscussed above, the incoming packet can arise from either the WAN,connected to the LAN modem through an ISDN connection, or locally, viaPrimary Router procedure 1100. Thereafter, block 1206 is executed tocheck the destination IP address of that packet. Decision block 1210then directs the packet accordingly based on its destination IP address.In particular, if the packet is incoming from the WAN, i.e., thedestination IP of the packet is either for the LAN modem itself or alocal host on the LAN, then decision block 1210 routes execution, viapath 1212, to block 1215. This latter block, when executed, sends theincoming packet onward to Primary Router procedure 1100 for routing tothe appropriate destination. Thereafter, execution loops back, via paths1216 and 1299, to block 1203 to await the next incoming packet.Depending upon the configuration of the LAN modem, packets may have toflow through IP/Port Number Translation (NAT) module 435 for IPaddress/port number translations; for simplification, process 435 hasbeen omitted from the present discussion.

Alternatively, if the packet is incoming from Primary Router procedure1100, i.e., the packet is destined for the WAN, then decision block 1210routes execution, via path 1214, to block 1218. This latter blockobtains, from the packet itself, an IP address of the source of thepacket. Execution then proceeds to block 1220, which searches throughhost list 1300 in database 416 (see FIG. 13A), to locate an entrytherein that has an IP address that matches the source IP address of theincoming packet. Once this operation completes, execution proceeds todecision block 1223. Based on the results of the search, this decisionblock determines whether the packet has arrived from a valid source,i.e., whether the source IP address of the packet matches either an IPaddress contained within the Host list 1300 or the IP address of the LANmodem itself. If no such match is found, then the packet, for somereason, appears to originate from an invalid source and hence iserroneous. In that case, decision block 1223 routes execution, via YESpath 1226, to block 1228. This latter block, when executed, merelydiscards the incoming packet. Thereafter, execution loops back, viapaths 1229 and 1299, to block 1203 to await the next incoming packet.

If, however, the incoming packet originates from a valid source, such asa host on the LAN or the LAN modem itself, then decision block 1223routes execution, via NO path 1224, to decision block 1230. This latterdecision block determines, whether that host has manually established anexisting ISDN connection. If this is the case, then the packet is simplyrouted over that connection to a remote network. Specifically, decisionblock 1230 routes execution, via YES path 1234, to block 1235 which,when executed, routes the packet over this particular ISDN connectionthen in use. Thereafter, execution loops back, via paths 1236 and 1299,to block 1203 to await the next incoming packet.

Alternatively, if a local host has not manually established an ISDNconnection, then decision block 1230 routes execution, via NO path 1232,to block 1237. Decision block 1237 determines, from the source IPaddress in that packet and previously obtained through execution ofblock 1218, whether the incoming packet originates with the LAN modemitself; if not, then the packet originated with a host on the LAN. TheLAN modem does not initiate a connection to a remote network. For anypacket the LAN modem generates itself, the LAN modem merely sends thatpacket to an appropriate network service provider over an existingconnection. However, for a packet originating with a host, the LAN modemselects an appropriate network service provider, and if a connection isnot then established thereto, establishes such a network connection.

If the incoming packet does not emanate from the LAN modem itself, thenexecution proceeds, via NO path 1239, emanating from decision block1237, to block 1240.

Through execution of blocks 1240-1256, the network service provider thatis to carry the incoming packet, originating with a host on the LAN,will be selected. The order through which a network service providerwill be selected for receiving the incoming packet is first to a networkservice provider that has a matching IP address to the destinationaddress in the incoming packet; then, if no such network serviceprovider then exists, to a network service provider that is an Internetservice provider; and finally, if neither of the preceding networkservice providers exists, to a network service provider for a privatenetwork that provides Internet access. If an ISDN connection is not thenestablished to the selected provider, such a connection will then beestablished. Thereafter, the incoming packet will be routed to theselected network service provider either over that newly establishedconnection or a previously established and existing connection thereto.

In particular, block 1240, when executed, accesses Host list 1300 todetermine, given the source IP address of the packet, which networkservice providers can be used by the corresponding host, i.e., which(SP_(s)) are permitted to provide network access to that host. Oncethese providers have been determined, block 1242 executes. This blocksearches through the entries for these permitted network serviceproviders in Network Service Provider list 1350 to determine if aDestination IP address in the incoming packet matches any network IPaddress (stored within the network ID information in each entry in thislist) for these providers. If such a match is found, decision block 1243routes execution, via YES path 1244 and path 1260, to block 1257.Alternatively, if such a match does not exist, then decision block 1243routes execution, via NO path 1246, to block 1248. This latter block,searches through Network Service Provider list 1350 to determine, forthose network service providers permitted to render network access tothe host that issued the packet, whether such a network service provideris an ISP. If such a match is found, decision block 1250 routesexecution, via YES path 1251 and path 1260, to block 1264.Alternatively, if such a match does not exist, then decision block 1250routes execution, via NO path 1252, to block 1254. This latter block,searches through Network Service Provider list 1350 to determine, forthose network service providers permitted to render network access tothe host that issued the packet, whether such a network service providerprovides access to a private network that affords Internet access. If,at this point, such a match is not found, decision block 1256 routesexecution, via NO path 1258, to block 1261. Block 1261, when executed,merely discards the incoming packet. Thereafter, execution loops back,via paths 1262 and 1299, to block 1203 to await the next incomingpacket.

Blocks 1264-1274 collectively determine whether an ISDN connection isestablished for the network service provider, selected through executionof blocks 1240-1256, and if not, to establish such a connection, andfinally to route the incoming packet, that originated with a host on theLAN, to the selected network service provider over this connection.

In particular, block 1264, by querying Source-Based Routing Table 446(see FIG. 4B) accesses an appropriate entry for the host that originatedthe incoming packet to determine whether an ISDN call is currentlyestablished to the selected network service provider. If an ISDN call isestablished to this provider, then decision block 1266, shown in FIGS.12A-12D, routes execution, via YES path 1268, to block 1270. This latterblock, when executed, routes the incoming packet over this establishedconnection to the selected network service provider. Thereafter,execution loops back, via paths 1272 and 1299, to block 1203 to awaitthe next incoming packet. Alternatively, if an ISDN connection is notestablished between the LAN modem and the selected network serviceprovider, then decision block 1266 routes execution, via NO path 1267,to block 1273. This latter block, when executed, queues the incomingpacket in a waiting queue until such time as an ISDN connection can beestablished to the selected network service provider. Once the packet isqueued, then block 1274 executes to begin establishing, through CallControl process 461 (see FIG. 4B; with the inter-process communicationfor establishing such a connection being shown in FIG. 5) an ISDNconnection to this network service provider. Once this connection hasbeen fully established, including after all the PPP protocols have beennegotiated, then the incoming packet is removed from the waiting queueand routed over the connection to the selected network service provider.Thereafter, execution loops back, via paths 1275 and 1299, to block 1203to await the next incoming packet.

Now, if the incoming packet originated with the LAN modem, rather than ahost on the LAN, then decision block 1237 directs execution via YES path1238, to block 1276. Blocks 1276-1293 select an appropriate networkservice provider, with which the LAN modem has established a currentISDN connection, to which that packet is then routed. Blocks 1276-1293are essentially the same as blocks 1240-1256.

In any event and in particular, block 1276, when executed, searchesthrough the entries for all network service providers in Network ServiceProvider list 1350 to determine if a Destination IP address in theincoming packet matches any network IP address (stored within thenetwork ID information in each entry in this list) for these providers.If such a match is found, decision block 1277 routes execution, via YESpath 1278 and paths 1281 and 1288, to block 1292. Alternatively, if sucha match does not exist, then decision block 1277 routes execution, viaNO path 1279, to block 1280. This latter block, searches through NetworkService Provider list 1350 to determine, for those network serviceproviders permitted to render network access to the host that issued thepacket, whether such a network service provider is an ISP. If such amatch is found, decision block 1282 routes execution, via YES path 1283and path 1281, to block 1292. Alternatively, if such a match does notexist, then decision block 1282 routes execution, via NO path 1284, toblock 1285. This latter block, searches through Network Service Providerlist 1350 to determine, for those network service providers permitted torender network access to the host that issued the packet, whether such anetwork service provider provides access to a private network thataffords Internet access. If, at this point, such a match is not found,decision block 1286 routes execution, via NO path 1287, to block 1289.Block 1289, when executed, merely discards the incoming packet.Thereafter, execution loops back, via paths 1290 and 1299, to block 1203to await the next incoming packet. However, if a match is found throughexecution of decision block 1256, this block then routes execution, viaYES path 1257, to block 1264.

Thereafter, execution proceeds to blocks 1292-1296 to route the incomingpacket, originating from the LAN modem, to the selected network serviceprovider.

In particular, block 1292, by querying Source-Based Routing Table 446(see FIG. 4B), determines whether an ISDN call is currently establishedto the selected network service provider. If an ISDN call is establishedto this provider, then decision block 1293 routes execution, via YESpath 1294, to block 1296. This latter block, when executed, routes theincoming packet over this established connection to the selected networkservice provider. Thereafter, execution loops back, via paths 1297 and1299, to block 1203 to await the next incoming packet. Alternatively, ifan ISDN connection is not established between the LAN modem and theselected network service provider, then decision block 1293 routesexecution, via NO path 1295, to block 1298. This latter block, whenexecuted, merely discards the packet; inasmuch as the LAN modem does notinitiate an ISDN call to a remote network service provider for anypacket that originated with the LAN modem. Thereafter, execution loopsback, via paths 1299, to block 1203 to await the next incoming packet.

c. Internal DNS And DHCP Servers And Interception Of Remote DNS RequestFor Error Handling

As discussed above, the LAN modem contains internal co-operating DHCPand DNS servers that are integrated with routing and call managementprocesses, all utilizing a shared database, i.e., database 416 (see FIG.4B).

Use of the internal DNS server provides local name-to-address resolutionsuch that, for user convenience and simplicity, each workstation on theLAN can be addressed in terms of its machine name rather than its IPaddress. Furthermore, the DNS server, by using a shared database withthe DHCP server, operates transparently of any user to acquire machinenames of all the workstations connected to the LAN and then providesuitable machine name to IP address resolution, as needed, for allcommunication between the LAN modem and these workstations as well asbetween any pair of workstations themselves. In addition, the DNS servergiven a DNS query, will determine, based on the source of the query,i.e., which specific workstation generated it, and the destination towhich the query is directed (e.g., another host on the LAN as identifiedby the machine name of the host, the LAN modem itself or a remotenetwork), the DNS server to which the query is to be routed and willthen route the query accordingly to that server. As such, the LAN modemhides from a host the selection of the DNS server that is utilized inconjunction with a remote network accessible through a given networkservice provider and which will be used in a given instance. Doing sosignificantly simplifies the use of the DNS in each workstationconnected to the LAN modem, and further facilitates use of either staticor dynamic IP addressing for each workstation. In addition, the DHCPserver provides the IP address, subnet mask, gateway and DNS serveraddresses to the local workstations, thereby eliminating any need tomanually configure and administer these items at each workstation.Furthermore, any workstation is always assigned the same IP address fromthe DHCP server, rather than having its IP address change from sessionto session, as would normally occur with dynamic IP addressing.Consequently, the user profile associated with each workstation can beeasily maintained and identified using its host IP address, and thenumber of workstations, that are simultaneously allowed to use the LANmodem, can be very easily controlled.

FIG. 14 depicts a flowchart of DHCP Induced IP Address Request procedure1400. Procedure 1400 provides a host IP address in response to a DHCPRequest packet in order to effectuate machine name to IP addressresolution for an additional workstation (host) that has been connectedto the LAN.

Specifically, upon entry into procedure 1400, execution first proceedsto decision block 1410. This block, when executed, determines whetherthe Ethernet address of the additional host equals that of one of thehosts in Host list 1300 (see FIG. 13A). If this address matches theEthernet address in the host list, i.e., indicative of this host alreadybeing connected to the LAN and having an IP address allocated to it inthe Host list, then, as shown in FIG. 14, decision block 1410 routesexecution, via YES path 1413, to block 1420. This latter block, whenexecuted, tests whether the machine name is specified in the DHCPRequest packet and whether that machine name is not the same as that inthe host entry in the Host list. In that regard, if a host is notconfigured to have a machine name, then the DHCP Request packet will notcontain a machine name field. Moreover, the machine name in the hostentry is only changed if the machine name in the DHCP Request packetdiffers from that in the entry. If such a different machine name isspecified in the DHCP Request packet, then decision block 1420 routesexecution, via YES path 1422, to block 1425; otherwise, execution isrouted, via NO path 1424 to block 1430. Block 1425, when executed,replaces the machine name in the Host list for this particular host, atthis point typically being a default value of "UnknownPC₋₋ x" (where xis a numeral between, illustratively, 1-4 for the preferred embodiment;see FIG. 13A), with the host name, i.e., machine name, provided in theDHCP Request packet. Execution then proceeds to block 1430, shown inFIG. 14, which assigns a Host IP address to this particular host fromthe IP address stored in the entry for this host in Host list 1300 andprovides that IP address back to this host, via a DHCP ACK (acknowledge)packet. Once this occurs, execution then exits from procedure 1400.

Alternatively, if no entry in the Host list contains the Ethernetaddress of the additional host, then decision block 1410 routesexecution, via NO path 1417, to decision block 1440. This latterdecision block determines from the number of entries in Host list 1300whether the host list can accommodate another entry, i.e., whether lessthan four workstations (or other network devices) for the preferredembodiment have been connected to the LAN and configured for networkaccess through the LAN modem. If no free host entry exists within thehost list, then execution merely exits, via NO path 1442, from procedure1400. This additional workstation simply can not be accommodated andrepresents an error condition, in that now more than a maximum number ofworkstations (and network devices) (the maximum being four such devicesin the preferred embodiment) are connected to the LAN through, forexample, a hub that is connected to one port of the LAN. However, if afree entry then exists in the host list, then decision block 1440directs execution, via YES path 1444, to decision block 1445. Thislatter block determines whether the DHCP Request packet specifies amachine name. Only if such a name is specified will an entry in the Hostlist be updated to reflect that name. If the DHCP Request packetspecifies a machine name, then decision block 1440 routes execution, viaYES path 1446, to block 1450; otherwise, execution is routed, via NOpath 1448, to block 1460. Block 1450 stores information regarding thisadditional host into the host list, in order to accommodate thisadditional host. In particular, block 1450, when executed, replaces themachine name in the Host list for the additional host, at this pointtypically being a default value of "UnknownPC₋₋ x", with the host name,i.e., machine name, provided in the DHCP Request packet. Execution thenproceeds to block 1460 which replaces the Ethernet address (at thispoint typically being a default address of zero, as shown in FIG. 13A)in the entry in the Host list with the actual Ethernet address of thisadditional host as supplied in the DHCP Request packet. Thereafter,block 1470, shown in FIG. 14, executes to assign the IP address of thefree host entry to the requesting host by providing that IP address tothe host, via a DHCP ACK (acknowledge) packet. Once this occurs,execution then exits from procedure 1400.

FIGS. 15A-15D collectively depict a flowchart of DNS Induced IP AddressRequest procedure 1500; the correct alignment of the drawing sheets forthese figures is shown in FIG. 15. Procedure 1500 implements two basicfunctions; namely, providing an IP address of a proper DNS server inresponse to either a DNS Query packet from any host connected to theLAN, and properly handling expiration of the idle timeout interval.

Specifically, upon entry into procedure 1500 execution first proceeds todecision block 1502 to test an incoming packet. If this packet is a DNSquery packet, then decision block 1502 routes execution, via YES path1504, to decision block 1506. This latter decision block determineswhether the host name in the DNS query packet matches that of the LANmodem, i.e., a workstation is querying the LAN modem to specify theaddress for its internal DNS server. If the names match, then executionproceeds, via YES path 1508, to block 1510. This latter block, whenexecuted, forms a DNS Reply packet containing the IP address of the LANmodem itself, and then sends that packet to TCP/IP process 425 foreventual routing, via the LAN, to the requesting local host(workstation). Execution then exits from procedure 1500. Alternatively,if the host name in the DNS query packet does not match that of the LANmodem, then decision block 1506 routes execution, via NO path 1507, todecision block 1512. This latter decision block determines, throughaccessing the host list (see FIG. 13A) whether the host name in the DNSquery packet matches the host name of any of the workstations on theLAN. If such a match is found, then execution proceeds, via YES path1513 shown in FIG. 15A, to block 1516. This latter block, when executed,forms a DNS Reply packet containing the IP address of that particularhost on the LAN, and then sends that packet to TCP/IP process 425 foreventual routing, via the LAN, to the requesting local host(workstation). Execution then exits from procedure 1500.

Alternatively, if the host name in the DNS query packet does not matchthat of any host on the LAN, then decision block 1512 routes execution,via NO path 1514, to block 1520. This latter block, when executed,extracts the source IP address from the DNS query packet, i.e., the IPaddress of the particular host on the LAN that originated this packet.Thereafter, block 1523, given this source IP address, accesses Host list1300 for an entry for this particular host. Once this access completes,execution proceeds to decision block 1526. This decision blockdetermines whether a known host exists, i.e., whether a host entry wasretrieved from host list 1300 in response to the source IP address. Ifno such host exists with this source IP address, then an unauthorizedhost on the LAN has been detected. Accordingly, decision block 1526routes execution, via NO path 1527, to block 1530 which, in turn,discards the DNS query packet. Execution then exits from procedure 1500.However, if a host entry was found, i.e., the host on the LAN whichgenerated the DNS query packet is valid, then decision block 1526 routesexecution, via YES path 1528, to decision block 1533. This latterdecision block determines whether that particular host has manuallyestablished an existing ISDN connection. If this is the case, then thepacket is simply routed over that connection to a remote network.Specifically, decision block 1533 routes execution, via YES path 1534,to block 1538 which, when executed, changes the IP address of the packetby substituting the IP address of a remote DNS server associated withthat network into the packet as its destination IP address. Thereafter,block 1538 routes the resulting packet over this particular ISDNconnection then in use. Execution then exits from procedure 1500.

Alternatively, if a local host has not manually established an ISDNconnection, then decision block 1533 routes execution, via NO path 1535,to block 1540. Through execution of blocks 1540-1560 (similar toexecution of blocks 1240-1256 in procedure 1200 shown in FIGS. 12A-12D),the network service provider that is to carry the DNS query packet willbe selected. The order through which a network service provider will beselected for receiving this packet is first to a network serviceprovider that has a matching domain name to that in the incoming packet;then, if no such network service provider then exists, to a networkservice provider that is an Internet service provider; and finally, ifneither of the preceding network service providers exists, to a networkservice provider for a private network that provides Internet access. Ifan ISDN connection is not then established to the selected provider,such a connection will then be established. Thereafter, the DNS querypacket will be routed, with a changed destination IP address, to theselected network service provider, either over that newly establishedconnection or a previously established and existing connection thereto.

In particular, block 1540, when executed, accesses Host list 1300 todetermine, given the host entry, which network service providers can beused by the corresponding host, i.e., which (SPs) are permitted toprovide network access to that host. Once these providers have beendetermined, block 1543 executes. This block searches through the entriesfor these permitted network service providers in Network ServiceProvider list 1350 to determine if a domain name in the DNS query packetmatches the domain name (stored within the network ID information in theeach entry in this list) in the entries for any of these providers whichare private networks. If such a match is found, decision block 1546routes execution, via YES path 1547 and path 1565, to block 1566.Alternatively, if such a match does not exist, then decision block 1546routes execution, via NO path 1548, to block 1550. This latter block,searches through Network Service Provider list 1350 to determine, forthose network service providers permitted to render network access tothe host that issued the packet, such a provider that is an ISP. If sucha match is found, decision block 1553 routes execution, via YES path1554 and path 1565, to block 1566. Alternatively, if such a match doesnot exist, then decision block 1553 routes execution, via NO path 1555,to block 1558. This latter block, searches through Network ServiceProvider list 1350 to determine, for those network service providerspermitted to render network access to the host that issued the DNS querypacket, whether such a network service provider provides access to aprivate network that affords Internet access. If a match is found, block1560 routes execution, via YES path 1562 and 1565 to 1566. If, at thispoint, such a match is not found, decision block 1560 routes execution,via NO path 1561, to block 1564. Block 1564, when executed, sends a DNSreply packet, to the local host, containing an error indicationspecifying that a DNS server can not be found. Thereafter, executionexits from procedure 1500.

Blocks 1566-1578 collectively determine whether an ISDN connection isestablished for the network service provider, selected through executionof blocks 1540-1560, and if not, to establish such a connection, andfinally to route the DNS query packet to the DNS server at the selectednetwork service provider over this connection.

In particular, block 1566 by querying Source-Based Routing Table 446(see FIG. 4B) accesses an appropriate entry therein for the host thatoriginated the DNS query to determine whether an ISDN call is currentlyestablished to the selected network service provider. If an ISDN call isestablished to this provider, then decision block 1570, shown in FIGS.15A-15D, routes execution, via YES path 1571, to block 1574. This latterblock, when executed, accesses from Network Service Provider (SP) List1350 the IP address of the remote DNS server for this particular networkservice provider. Once this address (denoted "DstnIP") is accessed, thisblock then substitutes this address as the destination IP address, inlieu of the address of the LAN modem, into the DNS query packet.Thereafter, block 1576 executes to send the resulting DNS query packet,now containing the IP address of the remote DNS server, to TCP/IPprocess 425 for routing to the selected network service provider andspecifically the remote DNS server associated therewith. Execution thenexits from procedure 1500.

Alternatively, if an ISDN connection is not established between the LANmodem and the selected network service provider, then decision block1570 routes execution, via NO path 1572, to block 1577. This latterblock, when executed, queues the DNS query packet in a waiting queueuntil such time when an ISDN connection can be established to theselected network service provider. Once the packet is queued, then block1578 executes to begin establishing, through Call Control process 461(see FIG. 4B; with the inter-process communication for establishing sucha connection being shown in FIG. 6) an ISDN connection to this networkservice provider. Execution then exits from procedure 1500.

Now, if the incoming packet is not a DNS query packet, then decisionblock 1502 routes execution, via NO path 1503, to decision block 1580.This latter decision block tests whether the packet contains a messagefrom secondary router 450, i.e., indicative of whether a requested ISDNcall to the selected network service provider was successfullyestablished by the LAN modem or not. If the packet contains such amessage, then decision block 1580 routes execution, via YES path 1582,to decision block 1583.

If the call was attempted but for whatever reason, could not beestablished to the selected network service provider, then decisionblock 1583 routes execution, via NO path 1584, to decision block 1586.This latter decision block determines whether the secondary routerprovided an error message regarding this attempted call. If no sucherror message was received, then execution exits from routine 1500, viaNO path 1587 emanating from decision block 1586. If, however, secondaryrouter 450 provided an error message, such as an indication of a busyconnection or that a B-channel was not then available and hence the callcould not be placed, execution proceeds, via YES path 1588, to block1590. Block 1590 sends a DNS reply packet back to the requesting hostbut with the IP address of the LAN modem itself as the IP address of theremote DNS server. Thereafter, block 1591 executes to set a shared(global) variable maintained within database 416 to signify theparticular failure, such as, e.g., a busy connection, that thenprevented the call from being established. Execution then exits fromprocedure 1500.

Once the browser in the host, that issued the DNS query packet, receivesthis DNS reply packet, that browser will then issue a request to what itbelieves to be the remote DNS server to translate the domain name of adesired web server (typically that which stores a default web pagedefined in the browser) and then fetch a particular web page (e.g., thedefault page) therefrom. Though the browser will naturally assume thatthe IP address it received in the reply packet is that of a remote DNSserver, in actuality it is that of the LAN modem itself--in effect theLAN modem has intercepted the DNS request from the host, i.e., a remoteDNS server. TCP/IP process 425 (see FIG. 4B) within the LAN modem, inreceiving this domain name translation request, will route this requestto DNS server 421 which will return the IP address of the LAN modemitself. Once this occurs and the host issues a request to fetch thedefault page, web server 416, in response to receiving this request asrouted to it by TCP/IP process 425, will test the shared (global)variable and determine, by the value of this variable, that an errorcondition has just occurred, and specifically the reason why an ISDNconnection could not be completed then. Consequently, the web server,rather than returning a requested default page to the browser, willdynamically construct, through insertion of error-specific codesegment(s) into a predefined page template, a web page that specifies anerror condition has occurred, i.e., that an ISDN connection could not beestablished, and the specific reason why, e.g., the destination was busyor no B-channel was then available to accommodate the connection andthen download this page, via TCP/IP process 425, to the host. Theinventive manner through which this page is dynamically constructed todepict an error condition is discussed in detail below in conjunctionwith FIGS. 22-26.

Alternatively, if the call was successfully established, includingnegotiation of all PPP protocols as appropriate, then decision block1583, shown in FIGS. 15A-15D, routes execution, via YES path 1585, toblock 1592. This latter block, when executed, stops the idle timeouttimer, if it is then running. As noted above, an error condition arisesif an ISDN connection can not be established within the idle timeoutperiod. Once the timer is stopped, then block 1593 is executed. Block1593 accesses, from Network Service Provider (SP) list 1350, the IPaddress (denoted "DstnIP") of the remote DNS server for this particularnetwork service provider. Thereafter, this block removes the DNS querypacket from the waiting queue. Once this occurs, block 1593 substitutesthe IP address ("DstnIP") of the remote DNS server as the destination IPaddress, in lieu of the address of the LAN modem, into the DNS querypacket. Thereafter, block 1594 sends the resulting DNS query packet, nowcontaining the IP address of the remote DNS server, to TCP/IP process425 for routing to the selected network service provider andspecifically the remote DNS server associated therewith. Execution thenexits from procedure 1500.

If, alternatively, the incoming packet is neither a DNS query packet norcontains a message from secondary router 450, then decision block 1580routes execution, via NO path 1581, to decision block 1595. This latterdecision block determines whether the packet indicates that the idletimeout interval has just elapsed, indicative that an ISDN call couldnot be completed during an allotted idle time interval (typically 30seconds, though subject to change by a user at a host duringconfiguration of the LAN modem). If the incoming packet does notindicate such a timeout condition, then execution simply exits fromprocedure 1500, via NO path 1596 emanating from decision block 1595.Alternatively, if such a timeout condition occurred, then decision block1595 routes execution, via YES path 1597, to block 1598. For everyqueued DNS query packet from the local host, block 1598 sends a DNSreply packet containing a suitable error message back to that host. Oncethe reply packet(s) has been so sent, execution exits from procedure1500.

As noted above, any host (workstation) on the LAN is always assigned thesame IP address from the DHCP server within the LAN modem, rather thanhaving the IP address possibly change from session to session, as wouldnormally occur with dynamic IP addressing. This is accomplished, withinDHCP server 418 (see FIG. 4B) located within the LAN Modem, by simplyignoring a request from the host, i.e., through an IP Address Releasemessage issued by the DHCP protocol in the host, to release any IPaddress previously assigned to that host. Hence, once an association isestablished within the host list between a host and a given Ethernetaddress, that host as it re-establishes a network connection to the LANmodem is always assigned the same dynamic IP address--absent anyintervening loss of power to the LAN modem which, upon a subsequentpower-on reset, re-initializes the LAN modem and sets entries in thehost list back to their default values shown in FIG. 13A. By maintainingthe same IP address assignments for the individual workstations as, overthe course of time, new host sessions and network connections areestablished therefor over the LAN, the user profile associated with eachworkstation, as well as the host list itself, will be subject to farfewer updates than if these addresses were to regularly change and thisinformation constantly modified to track these changes, and is thuseasier to access and administer. This, in turn, advantageouslysimplifies the underlying administrative code and saves processing time.Moreover, the number of workstations that is simultaneously allowed touse the LAN modem at any one time can be very easily controlled bymerely counting the number of entries then in use in the host list.

d. Program Storage And Firmware Integrity

Flash memory provides non-volatile data storage, though its access speedis relatively slow compared to DRAM 372. Consequently, all the programcode and data values for the LAN modem, as discussed above, are storedin flash memory 376 shown in FIG. 3. During a power-on boot phase, theboot program executes to copy the executable program code from the flashmemory into the DRAM, from which this code is then read and executed.

Conventionally speaking, information stored within volatile memory, suchas DRAM, is subject to being corrupted from transient phenomena, such aspower surges and the like. In that regard, if the contents of a locationin DRAM 372 that stores part of a program then being executed, were tobecome corrupted, errant program execution may result to the ultimatedetriment of any then on-going network communication between a host anda remote network. To prevent such errant operation, the LAN modemstrictly controls write access to the flash memory through use of akey-based software implemented lock. In addition, the LAN modemcontinually checks, on a location-by-location basis, the executable codestored within DRAM against the same executable code stored in the flashmemory for any discrepancies therebetween and, should any suchdiscrepancy be found, corrects, by over-writing, the contents of thelocation in the DRAM with the contents of the corresponding programlocation in the flash memory. Through these two processes, the integrityof the contents of the flash is assured by substantially reducing anylikelihood that the mode of the flash memory can be erroneously changedfrom read-only to read/write. The integrity of the executable code(firmware) in the DRAM is maintained by continually and repeatedlycomparing and correcting it to identically reflect that stored withinthe flash memory. This process of continual comparison and correctioncontinually executes as a fully preemptable background process duringthose intervals that would otherwise constitute idle processing time forCPU 330 (see FIG. 3).

FIG. 16 depicts a flowchart of Firmware Upgrade (FU) process 402. Thisparticular process, which forms part of software 400 shown in FIG. 4Ball of which executes in foreground, limits write access to the flashmemory on a key-controlled basis.

Specifically, process 402 is spawned by Configuration Manager 401 uponsystem reset, typically in response to a power-on reset. Upon entry intothis process, execution proceeds to block 1610, shown in FIG. 16, whichplaces this process in an initial state. During normal operation of theLAN modem, process 1610 will remain in this state at all times withexception of rather brief intervals, no longer than illustratively fiveminutes, during which the flash memory is set to a write mode to permitan actual upgrade of the firmware stored therein to be initiated from aremote file server. In this initial state, the firmware upgrade processis not running, contents of a write access key register are cleared tozero, and flash memory 376 is set to a read-only mode. The write accesskey itself is stored within the flash memory as a predefined unique32-bit (four-byte) value. Its particular value, assigned duringmanufacture, is not critical, though preferably it should be a random orpseudo-random number to ensure its uniqueness, i.e., a value that has anextremely high probability of not naturally occurring or arising from anerrant phenomena. As will be discussed below, in order to change themode of the flash memory from read-only to read/write, the value of thiskey must be copied from its original location in flash memory into awrite access key register in DRAM. Then, if and only if the value of thekey as stored in this register matches the key in its original locationin flash memory, the mode of the flash memory will be changed fromread-only to read/write. If a proper value for the key is selectedduring manufacture, then the likelihood that an errant process will set,i.e., corrupt, the contents of the 32-bit key register in such a mannerthat the contents of this register will exactly match the key stored inflash memory is less than 1 in a billion, thus assuring that theintegrity of the code stored in the flash memory is maintained to a verysubstantial degree, typically to an error level of less than one part ina billion.

After block 1610 has been executed, decision block 1620 periodicallydetermines whether a firmware upgrade process has been invoked. If thisprocess has not been invoked, then decision block 1620 loops backexecution, via NO path 1622 and path 1676, back to block 1610, such thatprocess 1600 remains in its initial state until such time as a user hasinvoked a firmware upgrade process.

Alternatively, if the user has just invoked a firmware upgrade, thendecision block 1620 routes execution, via YES path 1626, to start thefirmware upgrade process. As such, process 402 enters an upgrade state.Execution proceeds to block 1628 which first reads the 32-bit value ofthe key stored in its original location in flash memory and writes thatvalue into the write access key register. Thereafter, block 1628 resetsand starts a software-implemented timer, i.e., a firmware upgrade timerillustratively five minutes in duration. Once a firmware upgrade processhas been invoked, the upgrade, if it is to occur, must start within thisinterval. If a flash write request does not arise within this interval,then the firmware upgrade process is terminated with process 402returning to its initial state; thereby requiring the user to re-invokethe upgrade process should (s)he desire to proceed with an upgrade.

Decision blocks 1630 and 1640 determine whether a flash write requestoccurs within this timing interval. In particular, decision block 1630tests whether a flash write request was received from a host on the LANor a remote client. This request results from a process executing at thefile server that, with an exception of responding to a request from theConfiguration Manager to initiate the upgrade process, is otherwisetotally independent from firmware upgrade process 402. Hence, for a modechange to occur, two independent events must coincide: a firmwareupgrade must be initiated by the Configuration Manager, thereby changingthe state of process 402 and, in response to a request from theConfiguration Manager, the remote file server must generate a flashwrite request. The necessary coincidence of these two, otherwiseindependent events, further decreases the likelihood, quitesubstantially, that the mode of the flash memory might change toread/write as a result of an errant program execution in DRAM 372 (seeFIG. 3). In any event, if such a flash write request was not received,then decision bock 1630, shown in FIG. 16, routes execution, via NO path1632, to decision block 1640. This latter block tests whether thefirmware upgrade interval has expired. If the interval has not yetelapsed, then decision block 1640 feeds execution back, via NO path1642, to decision block 1630 to again test for a flash write request,and so forth. Alternatively, if this timing interval has elapsed, thendecision block 1640 routes execution, via YES path 1646 and path 1676,back to block 1610 to reset process 402 to its initial state.

However, when a flash write request is received during the timinginterval, decision block 1630 then routes execution, via YES path 1636,to decision block 1650. Thus latter decision block determines whetherthe key has been defined, i.e., whether the value of the key stored inthe write access key register exactly matches the value of the key ascurrently stored in its original location in flash memory. If the key isnot defined, then decision block 1650 routes execution, via NO path 1652to trap this error condition and generate a system check exception.Alternatively, if the key is defined, i.e., the value in the writeaccess key register identically matches the value of the 32-bit key inits original location in the flash memory, then execution proceeds, viaYES path 1654, to block 1655. Block 1655, when executed, changes themode of the flash memory from read-only to read/write. Thereafter,execution proceeds to block 1660 which updates the contents of flashmemory 376 with replacement program code received, via TCP/IP process425, from a host or remote client. Decision block 1670 tests whether thefirmware upgrade is complete. If the upgrade has not completed, decisionblock 1670 routes execution, via NO path 1672, back to block 1660 tocontinue the upgrade. Alternatively, if the upgrade has been completed,then decision block 1670 routes execution, via YES path 1676, back toblock 1610 which, in turn, sets process 402 back to its initial state,which includes changing the mode of the flash memory back to read-only.

Possible errant operations are shown as dashed lines in FIG. 16. Giventhe very short time, associated with an upgrade interval, generally afew minutes, if not less, then if an errant operation were to occur, inall likelihood, it would occur while process 402 was in its initialstate. As noted above, in this state the contents of the write accesskey register are cleared, i.e., zero, meaning that the key storedtherein is not defined at this time. Hence, a random attempt that mightarise to simply write data into flash memory 376, while process 402 isin its initial state, is symbolized by dashed line 1690. Inasmuch as theflash memory is then set to its read-only state, any errant attempt towrite into it would generate, as symbolized by block 1695, a systemcheck exception after which execution would effectively exit fromprocess 402. The occurrence of such an exception would simply causeoperating system 4010 (see FIG. 4A) to initiate a complete reset of theLAN modem.

A different errant attempt, as symbolized by dashed line 1680, mightoccur to change the mode of the flash memory from read-only toread/write. Inasmuch as the mode of the flash memory will be read-only,immediately before the time this attempt occurred, then the contents ofthe write access key register will then be zero, meaning that the keystored therein is not yet then defined. Hence, this errant operationwould need to change the contents of the write access key register toidentically match the 32-bit key as stored in its original location inthe flash memory before the mode of the flash memory could change toread/write. Consequently, since, in all practical likelihood, the zerocontents of the write access key register do not match the actual key inits original location in the flash memory, any change in the mode of theflash memory will be blocked, as symbolized by dashed line NO path 1686emanating from decision block 1685, resulting, should a write operationthen errantly occur, in a system check exception. The mode of the flashmemory would only change if the key were to become defined, i.e., if andonly if the value then stored in the write access key register were toidentically match the key stored in its original location in the flashmemory. Hence, if such an errant write request were to occur, then thisattempt would need to set, in some fashion, the contents of the writeaccess key register to exactly match that of the actual 32-bit keystored in its original location in the flash memory. While such anoccurrence, strictly speaking, is not impossible, the likelihood that anerrant condition would occur that sets the contents of a particular32-bit register to match a predefined random or pseudo-random 32-bitvalue, this result being symbolized by dashed line YES path 1688emanating from decision block 1685, is extremely unlikely, in the rangeof less than one in a billion.

FIG. 17 depicts a flowchart of Firmware Assurance Manager process 1700.As discussed above, this process is a preemptable background process,executing with, e.g., a lowest execution priority, that continuallycompares the entire executable program code stored in DRAM, on alocation-by-location basis, with that stored in the flash memory toassure integrity of the former. In the event a discrepancy is detected,process 1700 copies the contents of as many locations in the flashmemory to corresponding locations in the DRAM that are necessary toeliminate the discrepancy.

Specifically, upon entry into this process, execution first proceeds toblock 1710. This block, when executed, initializes a flash pointer(FLASH₋₋ PTR) and a DRAM pointer (RAM₋₋ PTR) to point to startingaddresses of the executable program code in both the flash memory andthe DRAM, respectively. Thereafter, execution proceeds to decision block1720 which tests whether Firmware Upgrade process 1600 (see FIG. 16) isin its upgrade state, i.e., whether an upgrade is expected to occurwithin illustratively five minutes or is then occurring. Inasmuch asupgraded code is written directly into flash memory, discrepancies willcertainly arise between the upgraded program code then stored in flashand a prior version then stored in DRAM; hence, all error checkingundertaken by process 1700 is suspended with execution simply exiting atthis point from this process. Once the upgrade is complete, theConfiguration Manager will reset the LAN modem to transfer the upgradedcode from the flash memory into the DRAM, and will then restart FirmwareAssurance Manager process 1700.

Alternatively, if a firmware upgrade is not then occurring or expectedto occur within its five minute window, i.e., process 1600 is in itsinitial state, then, as shown in FIG. 17, execution proceeds, via NOpath 1726 emanating from decision block 1720, to decision block 1730.This latter decision block determines whether the contents of the flashmemory at an address specified by the current value of the flash pointerare identical to the contents of the DRAM at an address specified by thecurrent value of the DRAM pointer. If no such discrepancy exists, thendecision block 1730 routes execution, via YES path 1736, to block 1750.Alternatively, if a discrepancy between the contents of these twolocations then exists, decision block 1730 routes execution, via NO path1732, to block 1740. This latter block, when executed, copies thecontents of the flash memory at an address given by the current value ofpointer FLASH₋₋ PTR into the location in DRAM at an address given by thevalue of pointer RAM₋₋ PTR. Thereafter, execution proceeds to block1750. Block 1750, when executed, increments the values of each of theflash and DRAM pointers by one to point to the next location in both theflash memory and the DRAM, respectively. Once this occurs, executionproceeds to decision block 1760 which tests whether an end of theexecutable program code stored in the flash memory has been reached. Ifthe end has not been reached, decision block 1760 routes execution, viaNO path 1762, back to block 1720 to test whether a firmware upgrade isnow occurring or about to occur, and so on. Alternatively, if the end ofthe executable code in flash memory has been reached, then decisionblock 1760 routes execution, via YES path 1766, back to block 1710 toreset the flash and DRAM pointers to point to the starting address ofthe executable program code flash and DRAM, respectively, and so forth.

e. Internal Web Server And Dynamic Web Page Construction Using Web PageTemplates

As discussed above, the inventive LAN modem utilizes an internal webserver 412 (see FIG. 4B) that, in addition to storing full web pages,constructs web pages in real-time from a predefined stored web pagetemplates by selectively inserting, e.g., event-specific code segmentstherein. Illustratively, this insertion is accomplished by substitutingsuch a segment(s) for a corresponding so-called "placeholder(s)"situated in the template. These segments can each represent an HTML formcomponent or form, an HTML directive, e.g., <META HTTP.EQUIV="Refresh"CONTENT=5>, a dialog box, a graphic, a predefined textual message or,generically speaking, any object (or its file name), including, e.g., anapplet (such as a JAVA or JAVASCRIPT applet--"JAVA" and "JAVASCRIPT"being trademarks of Sun Microsystems Inc. and Netscape CommunicationsCorporation, respectively, both of Mountain View, Calif.), an audio or avideo object, whether implemented through HTML or otherwise, that is tobe selectively: (a) presented, through direct insertion of object codeinto the document, to a user; (b) accessed to yield a file containing anobject which is subsequently assembled into the document by the browserfor display to the user; or (c) executed at that workstation to, e.g.,generate a particular display, invoke a particular procedure thereat,and/or to solicit a response, such as an item of data or a selectionamong a list of predefined data values, from the user. Since relativelyfew, if any, full web pages are stored, memory requirements becomerather modest. Such web pages are used for querying a user stationed ata workstation to enter information needed to configure the LAN modem, aswell as for displaying the specific nature and cause, if known, of adetected fault condition so that the user situated at a host can takeappropriate action. As any one skilled in the art can readilyappreciate, the inventive concept of dynamic web page creation usingselective insertion of web page component(s) into a predefined pagetemplate has extremely wide applicability, clearly well beyond that ofuse with just a LAN modem, that encompasses nearly any environment thatutilizes web pages. Such an environment can certainly includeclient-server usage over the Internet and/or an intra-net, or othernetworked environment.

FIG. 18 depicts a high-level block diagram of web server 412 and certainof its associated processes. As shown, the web server containsPreprocessing operation 1810, Table 1820, Static Page Processingoperation 1830, Dynamic Page Formation operation 1840, Post Processingoperation 1850 and Repository 1860. Repository 1860 can store bothstatic pages, i.e. complete web pages, and templates and predefined webpage components. To save storage space, the repository, as specificallyused in the LAN modem, stores templates and page components, rather thanonly full web pages.

In particular, an incoming HTTP request, typically in the form of a GETcommand, from a browser at a host on the LAN, as symbolized by line1801, is routed through TCP/IP process 425 (and then through HTTPprocess 425 to web server 412. Though commands and files transitingbetween TCP/IP process 425 and web server 412 flow through HTTP server415 (see FIG. 4B) for suitable encapsulation into and extraction from IPpackets, for the purposes of simplification, the operations involvingserver 415 (as well as the server itself) have all been purposelyomitted from FIG. 18 and the following discussion. In response to thisrequest, Preprocessing operation 1810, shown in FIG. 18, checks therequest for proper security clearance and, if the user has properprivileges to access the page he(she) desires, then accesses table 1820to ascertain the related handling functions, either POST or SEND, forthat page. If no entry for that page exists, then the page is a staticpage, i.e. having no changing components and hence the page itselfrequires no processing other than to access it from the repository. TheSEND function specifies that the server will access a desired page,including dynamically constructing the page as needed, and send thatpage back to the requesting host. The POST function, in contrast,accepts data as entered from the user, in response to, e.g., a currentlydisplayed web page, and requests that the web server process the data asappropriate. Should the desired page be a static page, then, assymbolized by line 1822, Static Page Processing operation 1830, which isdiscussed in detail below in conjunction with FIG. 19, then accesses, assymbolized by line 1835, that page in its entirety from repository 1860.In response, repository 1860 supplies a file containing the HTMLcontents for that page. This file is then applied, as symbolized by line1866, to TCP/IP process 425 for routing to the requesting workstationfor display. The page content in the file, in turn, will specify a nameof each additional file that represents an object that forms part of thedisplayed page. The browser, executing at the requesting workstation,then issues a GET command for each additional file specified in thepage; then, as the files are received, properly assembles the page,including its objects; and finally displays the complete page to theuser.

If, however, table 1820 has handling function entries, SEND and/or POST,for the requested page, then the requested page needs to be dynamicallyconstructed. In this case, the requested page must be constructed from astored template; hence necessitating additional page processing.Specifically, if the handling function specified in table 1820 is a SENDfunction, then dynamic Page Formation operation 1840 first accesses thepage template and specific data regarding the status and state of theLAN modem. This data is used, by Dynamic Page Formation operation 1840,to specify the page components that will be dynamically inserted intothe template. In general, this data collectively includes the value ofvarious shared (global) variables as well as appropriate entries fromHost list 1300 and Network Service Provider list 1350 (both of which arecollectively shown as Profiles Data Base 1870). The specific items ofdata that are requested in any one instance are defined by thenexecuting procedure for which web pages are being displayed by the LANmodem, such as, e.g., ISP Wizard 1880 (which simplifies set-up ofnetwork parameters for an Internet service provider, including useraccount and password, and displays appropriate network error messagesassociated therewith) or SPID Wizard 1890 (which, as discussed above,simplifies ISDN configuration of the LAN modem by automatically settingthe SPIDs in the LAN modem to those associated with the ISDN lines thenconnected to the LAN modem); the underlying executable code for both ofthese procedures is stored within memory 370. Once the data pertinent tothe requested page is obtained, as symbolized by line 1875, operation1840 accesses the corresponding web page component(s), as specified bythe value of each data item, and inserts that component into theappropriate location within the code for the template by substitutingthe code for that segment for a corresponding "placeholder" in thetemplate, as will be discussed in detail below in conjunction with FIGS.22-26. Thereafter, dynamic page formation operation 1840, shown in FIG.18, supplies, as symbolized by line 1846, a file containing thedynamically constructed page, i.e. the template with substitutedcomponents therein, to TCP/IP process 425 for routing to the requestingworkstation on the LAN. As with a static page, the dynamic page willlikely contain file names containing code associated with one or more ofits components which the browser, in turn, will request, in seriatim,from web server 412, through issuance of an appropriate GET commands. Inresponse, Dynamic Page Formation operation 1840 accesses and thendownloads each component from repository 1860 and supplies thatcomponent, in a separate file, to TCP/IP process 425 for eventualrouting to the workstation on the LAN.

If, alternatively, the handling function is a POST function, then, assymbolized by line 1826, Post Processing operation 1850, obtains thedata, supplied by the user at a workstation on the LAN and in responseto a currently displayed page associated with, e.g. ISP Wizard 1880 orSPID Wizard 1890, and attempts, as symbolized by line 1852, to updateassociated configuration data stored in memory 370, such as in ProfilesData Base 1870. Based on the validity of the data received from the userand the success or failure of the update, Post Processing operation 1850accesses an associated template stored in repository 1860 and insertsappropriate page components based on and to indicate the success orfailure of the update. The resulting dynamically created page is thensent, as a file, to TCP/IP process 425 for routing to the appropriateworkstation on the LAN.

FIG. 19 depicts a flowchart of Static Page Processing operation 1830. Asnoted above, this operation accesses and downloads a static web pagefrom repository 1860.

In particular, upon entry into operation 1830, execution first proceedsto step 1910. This step, when performed, obtains an incoming GET commandfrom a browser executing on a workstation situated on the LAN. Tosimplify the discussion, assume that a browser requests a web pagecontaining a document named "Manual.HTM". Once this GET command isreceived, then step 1920 accesses, as symbolized by line 1922, table1820 to determine whether the requested document is one requiringfurther processing prior to its transmission to the requestingworkstation. If the document requires such processing, an entry willexist in Table 1820, containing illustrative entries 1925, for thatdocument and associated handling functions that, when called, implementthe necessary processing. Inasmuch as document "Manual.HTM" is static,i.e. it is stored in its entirety in the repository, no such entryexists for it in the table. As such, once an access operation isperformed into Table 1820 with the results returned, then, as symbolizedby line 1926, step 1930 is performed to access, as symbolized by line1932, that document within repository 1860. Inasmuch as the repositorycontains an entry for this document, i.e. MANUAL₋₋ HTM, stored HTML codefor the corresponding document is then accessed from the repository, assymbolized by line 1936, and sent, as a complete file, through step1940, via TCP/IP process 425 (see FIG. 18), to the browser whichrequested that document. Thereafter, execution exits from procedure1830. Inasmuch as the statically constructed document likely containsnames for other page components, the browser will request each one ofthese corresponding components, in seriatim, from server 412 for pageassembly and eventual display.

FIG. 20 depicts a flowchart of Dynamic Page Formation operation 1840. Asnoted above, this operation dynamically constructs a web page given atemplate and associated page components accessed from repository 1860,and then downloads the resulting page to a requesting browser.

In particular, upon entry into operation 1840, execution first proceedsto step 2010. This step, when performed, obtains an incoming GET commandfrom a browser executing on a workstation situated on the LAN. Tosimplify the discussion, assume that a browser requests a web pagecontaining a document named "lan.HTM". Once this GET command isreceived, then step 2020 accesses, as symbolized by line 2022, table1820 to determine whether the requested document is one that requiresfurther processing prior to its transmission to the requestingworkstation. If the document requires such processing, an entry willexist in Table 1820 for that document and associated handling functionsthat, when called, implement the necessary processing. Since thedocument will be dynamically constructed, additional processing will berequired, i.e. to construct the document. Hence, an entry will exist forthis document within table 1820. In this case, access into the table, assymbolized by line 2026, results, through step 2030, in an entry, forthis document, illustratively containing a specific SEND function call.As such, once the access completes and the SEND handling function isfound for this document, as symbolized by step 2030, step 2040 isperformed. Step 2040, when performed, invokes the specific SEND functioncall, specified in the entry, to properly process the code for thedocument in order to dynamically create the desired web page. Inparticular, step 2040 accesses the template web page from repository1860, here under the entry "LAN₋₋ HTM". Step 2040 also accesses relevantdata stored in Profile Data Base 1870 (containing, as noted above, Hostlist 1300, as a LAN Profile, and Network Service Provider list 1350, asa WAN Profile). In addition, step 2040 also reads appropriate shared(global) variables, as well as system state and status information. Asdiscussed, the specific items of data retrieved by step 2040 isspecified by the state of the particular procedure then being executed,e.s. ISP Wizard 1880 or SPID Wizard 1890 (see FIG. 18). Once thenecessary template and data have all be accessed, step 2040, shown inFIG. 20, utilizes the data to select the appropriate web page componentsfrom repository 1860 that are to be substituted into the template inplace of corresponding placeholders. Once the substitutions arecompleted thereby yielding a dynamically constructed page, a filecontaining the resulting page is sent, by step 2050, to the requestingbrowser, via TCP/IP process 425 (see FIG. 18). Thereafter, as shown inFIG. 20, execution exits from operation 1840. Inasmuch as thedynamically constructed document likely contains names for other pagecomponents, the browser will request each one of these correspondingcomponents, in seriatim, from server 412 for page assembly and eventualdisplay.

FIG. 21 depicts a flowchart of Post Processing operation 1850 that isalso performed by web server 412. As noted above, Post Processingoperation 1850 obtains data, supplied by the user at a workstation onthe LAN and in response to a currently displayed page associated with,e.g. ISP Wizard 1880 or SPID Wizard 1890, and attempts to updateassociated configuration data stored in memory 370, such as in ProfilesData Base 1870. Based on the validity of the data received from the userand the success or failure of the update, operation 1850 will access anassociated static page stored in the repository or create onedynamically to indicate the success or failure of the update, and thensend that page to the appropriate workstation, on the LAN, for localdisplay thereat.

Specifically, upon entry into operation 1850, execution first proceedsto step 2110. This step, when performed, obtains a POST command from abrowser executing on a workstation situated on the LAN. To simplify thediscussion, assume that a browser generates this command to providespecific user-supplied data requested by document "wan.htm". The POSTcommand will contain the document name, here "wan.htm", and appropriateidentifier(s) each with an item of user-supplied data. Once this POSTcommand is received, then step 2120 accesses, as symbolized by line2122, table 1820 to determine whether the document named in the POSTcommand, and to which the workstation is responding, is one thatrequires further processing. If the document requires such processing,an entry will exist in Table 1820 for this document and associatedhandling functions that, when called, provide the necessary processing.Since processing is required, here in the form of updating profileinformation stored at the LAN modem, Table 1820 will contain thespecific POST function call needed to implement the processingassociated with this document. In this case, access into the table, assymbolized by line 2126, results, through step 2130, in an entry, forthis document, illustratively containing a specific POST function. Assuch, once the access completes and the POST handling function is foundfor this document, as symbolized by step 2130, step 2140 is performed.Step 2140, when performed, calls the specific POST function, specifiedin the entry, to properly process the response which the user hasprovided for this document. In particular, step 2140, checks thevalidity of the user-supplied data, and if valid, updates, as symbolizedby line 2146, the corresponding profile, e.g. an entry in either Hostlist 1300 or Network Service Provider list 1350, with the data providedby the user and contained in the POST command. Thereafter, step 2140,based on the validity of the data received from the user and the successor failure of the update, accesses, as symbolized by line 2142, anassociated template along with appropriate page components fromrepository 1860. Step 2140 then substitutes the page components into thetemplate to create a dynamic page that is based on and indicates thesuccess or failure of the update. Step 2150 then sends the resultingdynamically created page, as a single file, to TCP/IP process 425 (seeFIG. 18) for routing to the appropriate workstation on the LAN.Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 21, execution exits from operation 1850.

To further illustrate the inventive dynamic web page construction, twoexamples, one being creation of a specific error message and the otherbeing creation of a dynamically changing progress bar display objectwill now be discussed.

First, consider FIG. 22 which depicts code 2200 for an illustrativeinventive web page template. This template forms a basis of several webpages that are used in conjunction with ISP Wizard 1880 (see FIG. 18)for use in configuring LAN network parameters for the LAN modem. Thiscode contains conventional HTML code, and placeholders 2210, 2215, 2220,2225, 2230₁ and 2230₂, and 2235 containing code terms ₋₋ REFRESH₋₋, ₋₋TITLE₋₋, ₋₋ PICTURE1₋₋, ₋₋ TEXT1₋₋, ₋₋ PICTURE2₋₋, ₋₋ TEXT2₋₋, ₋₋PICTURE2₋₋ and ₋₋ BUTTON₋₋. Based on the state and status of the system,and/or values of shared (global) variable(s) at the time a dynamic pageis created from this template, specific page components, such asparticular refresh time commands, text and pictures will be selectivelysubstituted for the corresponding placeholder(s) to create a dynamic webpage. The template, as rendered by a web browser on a display screen,would appear as shown in FIG. 23. Each of the placeholders merelyappears as a textual object set off by underscores in a predefinedlocation, as specified by HTML coding within code 2200 shown in FIG. 22.

Given web page template 2200, FIG. 24 depicts, in high-level blockdiagram form, inventive process 2400 for dynamically forming a web pageusing this template and predefined web page, such as for the ISP Wizardcomponents.

In particular, first as shown in block 2410, ISP Wizard 1880 (see FIG.18) is initiated. During the course of executing this wizard, the statusof the configuration process, particularly responses from the ISP ornetwork, are used to set global variables to indicate success or aspecific failure condition. During the course of executing this Wizard,a series of web pages are dynamically constructed and displayed to theuser, with the particular pages varying based on the then current stateof the Wizard. For example, assume that a user entered an incorrecttelephone number into the Wizard causing a logon placed through the LANmodem to that ISP to fail; hence representing a specific errorcondition. This error condition, reflected in values of various globalvariables, results in the selection, as defined in the program code forthe ISP Wizard, of particular page objects, as delineated in block 2420,for each of the placeholders in template 2200. Template 2200 isaccessed, as symbolized by block 2430 and applied along with thespecific page components for the placeholders, as defined by block 2420,to block 2440. Block 2440 substitutes each of the specific objectsdefined in block 2420 for the corresponding placeholder in template2200. For example, the two placeholders, 2230₁ and 2230₂, (see FIGS. 22and 23) which represent a common picture but in two separate locations,are each replaced by HTML code for a graphic of a flashing red ball. Anunused placeholder, i.e. ₋₋ REFRESH₋₋, is removed inasmuch as theresulting web page does not generate an update request to the server butit is displayed constantly while awaiting a response from the user. Theresulting HTML code for the dynamic web page is shown as code 2500 inFIG. 25. Comparing this code with template code 2200 shown in FIG. 22reveals that appropriate HTML code has been substituted for each of thecorresponding placeholders. For example, the placeholders ₋₋ TITLE₋₋ and₋₋ TEXT1₋₋ have been replaced by "ISP Wizard" and "Logging on the ISPFailed!", respectively. The resulting dynamic web page as rendered on adisplay screen by a browser, in response to code 2500, would appear aspage display 2600 shown in FIG. 26. For a different error condition or asuccessful logon attempt, the values of the global variables wouldchange accordingly from those associated with the selected pagecomponents shown in block 2420 in FIG. 24. Hence, different predefinedpage components would be dynamically substituted into template 2200 toproduce a web page that, when rendered on the display screen at theworkstation, would indicate the particular result which then occurred,i.e. this different error condition or a successful logon.

Consider, as a second example and as illustrated in FIG. 27, the dynamicconstruction of successive web pages that collectively implement adynamically changing progress bar object. Here, the progress barconsists of a sequence of dots that grows by one dot every three secondsto chart progress of a given item. Illustratively, the item beingcharted is progress of loading the code for the ISP Wizard, forsubsequent execution. This code includes a single web page file(including a page template and all associated predefined pagecomponents) and executable code, and is loaded both in object code, fromflash memory 376 into DRAM 372 (see FIG. 3) once a user has manuallyinitiated this Wizard during configuration. The progress bar is renderedby a dynamically changing HTML document (web page) that changes at setthree-second intervals. This page is generated by substituting, witheach new request generated by the browser at three-second intervals,page components 2720₁, 2720₂ and 2720₃, into page template 2200 to yieldcorrespondingly rendered web pages 2710 containing web pages 2710₁,2710₂ and 2710₃, respectively. Here, appropriate global variables areset to reflect a current status of the Wizard, which through a softwaretimer, changes every three seconds during a loading process. This statuschange results in the textual component for placeholder ₋₋ Text2₋₋ beingdynamically changed by replacing it with different HTML commands, i.e.here having an additional HTML "DOT" instruction (which, when renderedby a browser, results in display of another successive circular dot).

The discussion will now address the manner through which a web pagetemplate, associated web page components, and appropriate executablecode are is collectively stored as a single module within memory 370 ofthe LAN modem for use by web server 412 (see FIGS. 3 and 4B). Since thismodule is initially stored in flash memory 376 and subsequently copied,with the same data structure, into DRAM 372 for subsequent execution,the discussion will merely refer to this module as being stored withinmemory 370.

FIG. 28 depicts a flowchart of File Creation process 2800 that creates acommon file of a web page template(s) and associated web pagecomponents. This process is executed off-line in a computer to generatea file that is then integrated and linked to the executable code for,e.g., the ISP Wizard, and then appropriately compiled to form a modulewhich, in turn, is subsequently loaded during, e.g., manufacture (orduring an upgrade operation) into memory 370 and specifically to formrepository 1860 (see FIG. 18). Prior to executing this process, aseparate source file for each web page template and other source files,each containing a web page component associated with that particulartemplate, is stored into a common directory on that computer.

Upon entry into process 2800, block 2810 is first executed. This blocksearches a common directory, that contains all the web page componentand template files, for all those files that contain web pagecomponents. These files are typically identified by their extension;namely, .HTM or .HTML for HTML files, .JPG or .GIF for image files, .AUfor audio files and so forth for all other suitable file types. Oncethese files are found and suitably catalogued into a set, block 2815executes to select, as a current file to process, a first file in theset. Thereafter, a loop is entered consisting of blocks 2820-2840 tointegrate each file in the set into a resulting common module. Inparticular, within this loop, block 2820 is first executed to compute alength of the current file and, from its extension, a corresponding filetype. Thereafter, block 2825 executes to form a header for the currentfile, which includes the length of this file, an identification of aserver on which the file is stored, a date and version number of thisfile and other pertinent information. Once formed, the header is thenprepended to the current file. Execution then proceeds to block 2830which creates a separate document array and copies the contents of thecurrent file, including its prepended header, into that array. Each suchdocument array only stores one web page component and its prependedheader. Once block 2830 completes its execution, decision block 2835determines whether all the files in the set have been processed. Ifanother file remains to be processed, then decision block 2835 routesexecution, via NO path 2836, to block 2840 to select a next successivefile remaining to be processed in the set. Thereafter, execution loopsback, via path 2843, to block 2820 to process that next file, and soforth.

If, however, all the files in the set have been processed, then decisionblock 2835 routes execution, via YES path 2838, to block 2845. Thislatter block, when executed, creates a source file, illustratively named"bsource.c", and stores all the document arrays into that file. Adefinition of the resulting data structure that is to store pointers tothe page template(s) and associated web page component is generated andstored in this source file. Thereafter, execution proceeds to block 2850which includes in this source file, a list of pair entries, specificallydata structure 3000 (to be discussed below in conjunction with FIGS.29-31) which contains a pair entry for each document array. Each suchpair consists of a name of the array and a pointer to its startinglocation in the memory; the actual values of the pointers will be setonce the module is appropriately linked. Through this list, each arraycomponent in the repository can be readily located by its name. Oncethis list is fabricated, block 2855 executes to create a header filethat declares all document arrays as externals for use during subsequentcompilation. At this point, one source file, i.e. bsource.c, containinga list of all the document arrays for both the web page templates andweb page components, and those arrays themselves has been created.Execution then exits from process 2800. Thereafter, this single file isthen compiled along with the executable source code. The resulting codeis then linked together, through a conventional linker, to form thesingle module. This module is then subsequently stored within memory370.

FIG. 29 depicts data structure 3000 that houses the list of pairedentries and document arrays 2930 for the web page templates andassociated web page components, and which is stored within therepository in memory 370. As shown, data structure 3000 contains a listof paired entries, i.e. effectively forming two columns 2910 and 2920,with each such pair containing, in separate fields, of which 2910₁ and2920₁ are illustrative, a name, e.g. NAME₁, NAME₂, . . . , of a documentarray and a pointer, e.g. POINTER₁, POINTER₂, . . . , which specifies astarting location, as symbolized by lines 2925₁, 2925₂, . . . , withinmemory 370 at which that particular array, e.g. 2930₁, 2930₂, . . . , isstored. An illustrative actual source listing of data structure 3000 asused by web server 412 in the LAN modem is depicted in FIGS. 30A and30B; for which the correct alignment of the drawing sheets for these twofigures is shown in FIG. 30. Each paired entry in data structureidentifies an array containing either a template or a web pagecomponent, with the paired entry containing a pointer followed by a filename. FIG. 31 depicts actual object code of an illustrative web pagecomponent, i.e. FRMAIN₋₋ HTM[], as it would be stored within therepository.

Though the inventive dynamic web page creation process has beendescribed, in conjunction with the preferred embodiment of the LANmodem, as selecting particular web page components for insertion into atemplate web page based on particular error conditions, and/or systemstate or status information, those skilled in the art will clearlyrealize that, generally speaking, any input criteria can be usedinstead, as determined by the needs of a particular application forwhich dynamic page creation is to be used, to select which particularpage components to use in any given instance and insert into anassociated page template, from amongst all those then stored.

Furthermore, even though the inventive apparatus has been specificallydescribed in the context of providing a 4-port Ethernet hub andassociated network functionality, e.g., domain name resolution and DHCPhandling, for accommodating four separate local hosts, the apparatus canbe easily expanded, in a manner readily apparent to anyone skilled inthe art, to accommodate any number of hosts by, e.g., suitably enlargingboth the hub and various routing tables and lists, some of thosemodifications having been discussed above, as well as storing additionalconfiguration information, such as user profiles, as needed.

Moreover, though configuration of the LAN modem has been described abovein terms of communicating with an executing web browser in a workstationconnected to the LAN modem, other appropriate TCP applications executingat the workstation and capable of conducting interactive communicationwith a server in the LAN modem and a user at the workstation, such asTelnet can be employed instead. Similarly, such applications can also beused in conjunction with interception of DNS Request (or otherappropriate) messages to, e.g., a remote server, that would occur duringTCP applications other than web browsing, to display appropriate faultmessages.

Although a single, though rather detailed, embodiment which incorporatesthe teachings of the present invention has been shown and described indetail herein, those skilled in the art can readily devise many otherembodiments that still utilize these teachings.

We claim:
 1. Apparatus for a network communication device comprising:aprocessor; a memory, connected to the processor, for storing executableinstructions therein; and communication circuitry, connected to andcontrolled by the processor, for establishing a communicative connectionbetween a first network and, via a second network, at least one hostdevice connected to the second network; wherein the processor, inresponse to the stored instructions:automatically adapts, in response toa network message sent by said one host device over the second network,the network communication device to a current network environment of theone host device such that the network communication device and the onehost device can thereafter undertake network communication therebetween,regardless of an original network environment of either the networkcommunication device or the one host device; and downloads, once thenetwork communication device has adapted and in response to a downloadrequest issued by the one host device for a default file from a remoteserver, a predetermined configuration file, in lieu of the default file,to the one host device, regardless of the remote server to which thedownload request was originally intended, whereby, through use of theconfiguration file, the one host device can subsequently configure thenetwork communication device through the second network.
 2. Theapparatus in claim 1 wherein the first and second networks comprise aremote network and a local area network (LAN), respectively.
 3. Theapparatus in claim 2 wherein the processor, in response to the storedinstructions, automatically adapts a value of a predefined networkparameter associated with the network communication device such that thenetwork communication device and the one host device are both situatedon a same network portion.
 4. The apparatus in claim 3 wherein thenetwork portion is a subnet.
 5. The apparatus in claim 4 wherein theprocessor, in response to the stored instructions:changes an internetprotocol (IP) address associated with the network communication deviceto match a target IP address contained in the network message; and setsa value of a subnet mask for the network communication device such thatthe network communication device and the one host device are situated onthe same subnet.
 6. The apparatus in claim 5 wherein the network messageis a first address resolution protocol (ARP) request packet.
 7. Theapparatus in claim 6 wherein the processor, in response to the storedinstructions:broadcasts over the local area network a second ARP requestpacket, containing as a target IP address the target IP addresscontained in the network message; and waits for a predefined period oftime to elapse before changing the IP address of the networkcommunication device and setting the subnet mask value so as to assureno network response message is received to said second ARP requestpacket.
 8. The apparatus in claim 7 wherein the network communicationsdevice is a LAN modem.
 9. The apparatus in claim 5 wherein theprocessor, in response to the stored instructions, sets the subnet masksuch that the subnet can accommodate a predefined number of host devicesin addition to said one host device.
 10. The apparatus in claim 9wherein the processor, in response to the stored instructions:determinesa corresponding IP address for each of the additional host devices so asto form, in conjunction with the IP address of the one host device, aplurality of IP addresses; and stores each of the plurality of IPaddresses in separate corresponding entries in a host list forsubsequent assignment to each of said additional host devices.
 11. Theapparatus in claim 10 wherein the predefined number is at least three.12. The apparatus in claim 10 wherein the network communications deviceis a LAN modem.
 13. The apparatus in claim 5 wherein the processor, inresponse to the stored instructions, once the IP address of the networkcommunication device has been changed and after the subnet mask has beenset, downloads, in response to the download request for a default fileand issued by a given IP application executing at the one host device, apredetermined configuration file to the one host device through apredefined IP application executing at the network communication device.14. The apparatus in claim 13 wherein the default file is a filecontaining a default web page, the given IP application is a webbrowser, the remote server is an hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP)server and the predetermined configuration file is a file containing aninitial configuration web page through which, when displayed at the onehost device, a user stationed thereat can enter the values of theconfiguration parameters into the network communication device.
 15. Theapparatus in claim 14 wherein the network communications device is a LANmodem.
 16. A method for use in a network communication device, thedevice having a processor, a memory, connected to the processor, forstoring executable instructions therein, and communication circuitry,connected to and controlled by the processor, for establishing acommunicative connection between a first network and, via a secondnetwork, at least one host device connected to the second network,wherein the method comprises the steps, implemented through theexecutable instructions, of:automatically adapting, in response to anetwork message sent by said one host device over the second network,the network communication device to a current network environment of theone host device such that the network communication device and the onehost device can thereafter undertake network communication therebetween,regardless of an original network environment of either the networkcommunication device or the one host device; and downloading, once thenetwork communication device has adapted and in response to a downloadrequest issued by the one host device for a default file from a remoteserver, a predetermined configuration file, in lieu of the default file,to the one host device, regardless of the remote server to which thedownload request was originally intended, whereby, through use of theconfiguration file, the one host device can subsequently configure thenetwork communication device through the second network.
 17. The methodin claim 16 wherein the first and second networks comprise a remotenetwork and a local area network (LAN), respectively.
 18. The method inclaim 17 wherein the adapting step further comprises the step ofautomatically adapting a value of predefined network parametersassociated with the network communication device such that the networkcommunication device and the one host device are both situated on a samenetwork portion.
 19. The method in claim 18 wherein the network portionis a subnet.
 20. The method in claim 19 wherein the network parametersadapting step comprises the steps of:changing an internet protocol (IP)address associated with the network communication device to match atarget IP address contained in the network message; and setting a valueof a subnet mask for the network communication device such that thenetwork communication device and the one host device are situated on thesame subnet.
 21. The method in claim 20 wherein the network parametersadapting step further comprises the step of setting the subnet mask suchthat the subnet can accommodate a predefined number of host devices inaddition to said one host device.
 22. The method in claim 21 wherein thenetwork parameters adapting step further comprises the stepsof:determining a corresponding IP address for each of the additionalhost devices so as to form, in conjunction with the IP address of theone host device, a plurality of IP addresses; and storing each of theplurality of IP addresses in separate corresponding entries in a hostlist for subsequent assignment to each of said additional host devices.23. The method in claim 22 wherein the predefined number is at leastthree.
 24. The method in claim 20 wherein the network message is a firstaddress resolution protocol (ARP) request packet.
 25. The method inclaim 24 wherein the network parameters adapting step further comprisesthe steps of:broadcasting over the local area network a second ARPrequest packet, containing as a target IP address the target IP addresscontained in the network message; and waiting for a predefined period oftime to elapse before changing the IP address of the networkcommunication device and setting the subnet mask value so as to assureno network response message is received to said second ARP requestpacket.
 26. The method in claim 20 further comprising the step of, oncethe IP address of the network communication device has been changed andafter the subnet mask has been set, downloading, in response to thedownload request for a default file and issued by a given IP applicationexecuting at the one host device, a predetermined configuration file tothe one host device through a predefined IP application executing at thenetwork communication device.
 27. The method in claim 26 wherein thedefault file is a file containing a default web page, the given IPapplication is a web browser, the remote server is an hypertext transferprotocol (HTTP) server and the predetermined configuration file is afile containing an initial configuration web page through which, whendisplayed at the one host device, a user stationed thereat can enter thevalues of the configuration parameters into the network communicationdevice.